IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 625 

Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of Prematurity Awareness Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania (for himself and Ms. NORTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 

case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 

the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals, activities, and ideals of Prematurity 

Awareness Month. 

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, complications of preterm birth now outrank all other causes 

as the world’s number one killer of children under 5 

years of age; 

Whereas complications of preterm birth accounted for 35 percent of deaths among newborns globally in 2013; 

Whereas there are stark inequalities in the survival rates of 

preterm babies born around the world; 


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•HRES 625 IH 

Whereas up to 75 percent of deaths resulting from preterm 

birth worldwide can be prevented through proven low-cost 

interventions; 

Whereas preterm birth is a global problem, exacting a harsh 

toll on families from all parts of society in every nation; 

Whereas countries can improve maternal health and the survival rate of babies born prematurely by making strategic 

investments in health care systems to ensure access to 

high-quality adolescent and prepregnancy care; prenatal 

care, quality childbirth services, and emergency obstetric 

care; as well as comprehensive care for affected 

newborns; 

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, preterm birth is the leading contributor to infant death in the United States; 

Whereas while the United States preterm birth rate decreased from a peak of 12.8 percent in 2006 to 9.8 percent in 2016, the rate is still too high; 

Whereas the March of Dimes 2017 Premature Birth Report 

Card awarded the United States a ‘‘C’’ due to persistently high rates of preterm birth; 

Whereas many United States communities experience significant racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates; 

Whereas the Institute of Medicine estimated in 2006 that the 

annual societal economic cost associated with preterm 

birth in the United States was $26.2 billion; 

Whereas many preterm births can be prevented through evidence-based public health programs focused on reducing 

risk factors, such as tobacco use, inadequate birth spacing, and early elective deliveries; and 


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•HRES 625 IH 

Whereas in the United States and around the world November is recognized as Prematurity Awareness Month: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the recognition of Prematurity 

3 Awareness Month; 

4 (2) supports efforts at home and abroad to— 

5 (A) reduce the impact of preterm births by 

6 improving maternal health prepregnancy and 

7 postpregnancy; and 

8 (B) advance the care and treatment of in9 fants born preterm; 

10 (3) honors those working domestically and 

11 internationally to reduce preterm births; and 

12 (4) expresses the intent of the House of Rep13 resentatives to promote evidence-based prevention 

14 interventions to prevent preterm birth and improve 

15 outcomes for affected infants. 

Æ 


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