III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 240 

Designating September 9, 2009, as ‘‘National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum 

Disorders Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 4, 2009 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. HATCH, Mr. DORGAN, and 

Mr. SPECTER) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 9, 2009, as ‘‘National Fetal Alcohol 

Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the term ‘‘fetal alcohol spectrum disorders’’ includes 

a broader range of conditions and therefore has replaced 

the term ‘‘fetal alcohol syndrome’’ as the umbrella term 

describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the leading 

cause of cognitive disability in western civilization, including the United States, and are 100 percent preventable; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a major cause 

of numerous social disorders, including learning disabilities, school failure, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, 

unemployment, mental illness, and crime; 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 240 ATS 

Whereas the incidence rate of fetal alcohol syndrome is estimated at 1 out of 500 live births and the incidence rate 

of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is estimated at 1 out 

of every 100 live births; 

Whereas although the economic costs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are difficult to estimate, the cost of fetal 

alcohol syndrome alone in the United States was 

$5,400,000,000 in 2003, and it is estimated that each individual with fetal alcohol syndrome will cost taxpayers of 

the United States between $1,500,000 and $3,000,000 in 

his or her lifetime; 

Whereas in February 1999, a small group of parents of children who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 

came together with the hope that in 1 magic moment the 

world could be made aware of the devastating consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; 

Whereas the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

Awareness Day was observed on September 9, 1999; 

Whereas Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, the co-founder 

of the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, asked ‘‘What if . . . a world full of FAS/E 

[Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect] parents all got together 

on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month 

of the year and asked the world to remember that during 

the 9 months of pregnancy a woman should not consume 

alcohol . . . would the rest of the world listen?’’; and 

Whereas on the ninth day of the ninth month of each year 

since 1999, communities around the world have observed 

International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 240 ATS 

1 (1) designates September 9, 2009, as ‘‘National 

2 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day’’; 

3 and 

4 (2) calls upon the people of the United States— 

5 (A) to observe National Fetal Alcohol 

6 Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day with appro7 priate ceremonies— 

8 (i) to promote awareness of the effects 

9 of prenatal exposure to alcohol; 

10 (ii) to increase compassion for individ11 uals affected by prenatal exposure to alco12 hol; 

13 (iii) to minimize further effects of pre14 natal exposure to alcohol; and 

15 (iv) to ensure healthier communities 

16 across the United States; and 

17 (B) to observe a moment of reflection on 

18 the ninth hour of September 9, 2009, to re19 member that during the 9 months of pregnancy 

20 a woman should not consume alcohol. 

Æ 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS