III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 204 

Designating March 31, 2010, as ‘‘National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 

Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 24, 2009 

Mr. VITTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating March 31, 2010, as ‘‘National Congenital 

Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 

one of the most prevalent, life-threatening birth defects 

in the United States; 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 

a severe, often deadly birth defect that has a devastating 

impact, in both human and economic terms, affecting 

equally people of all races, sexes, nationalities, geographic 

locations, and income levels; 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect occurs in 1 in every 2,000 live births in the United States 

and accounts for 8 percent of all major congenital anomalies; 


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•SRES 204 IS 

Whereas, in 2004, there were approximately 4,115,590 live 

births in the United States, and in approximately 1,800 

of those live births, the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

birth defect occurred, causing countless additional 

friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers to shoulder 

the physical, emotional, and financial burdens the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect causes; 

Whereas there is no genetic indicator or any other indicator 

available to predict the occurrence of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, other than through the 

performance of an ultrasound during pregnancy; 

Whereas there is no consistent treatment or cure for the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 

a leading cause of neonatal death in the United States; 

Whereas 50 percent of the patients who do survive the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect have residual 

health issues, resulting in a severe strain on pediatric 

medical resources and on the delivery of health care services in the United States; 

Whereas proactive diagnosis and the appropriate management and care of fetuses afflicted with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect minimize the incidence of 

emergency situations resulting from the birth defect and 

dramatically improve survival rates among people with 

the birth defect; 

Whereas neonatal medical care is one of the most expensive 

types of medical care provided in the United States and 

patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth 

defect stay in intensive care for approximately 60 to 90 

days, costing millions of dollars, utilizing blood from local 


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•SRES 204 IS 

blood banks, and requiring the most technically advanced 

medical care; 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 

a birth defect that causes damage to the lungs and the 

cardiovascular system; 

Whereas patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

birth defect may have long-term health issues such as 

respiratory insufficiency, gastroesophageal reflux, poor 

growth, neurodevelopmental delay, behavior problems, 

hearing loss, hernia recurrence, and orthopedic deformities; 

Whereas the severity of the symptoms and outcomes of the 

congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect and the limited public awareness of the birth defect cause many patients to receive substandard care, to forego regular visits 

to physicians, and not to receive good health or therapeutic management that would help avoid serious complications in the future, compromising the quality of life 

of those patients; 

Whereas people suffering from chronic, life-threatening diseases and birth defects, similar to the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and family members of 

those people are predisposed to depression and the resulting consequences of depression because of anxiety over 

the possible pain, suffering, and premature death that 

people with such diseases and birth defects may face; 

Whereas the Senate and taxpayers of the United States want 

treatments and cures for disease and hope to see results 

from investments in research conducted by the National 

Institutes of Health and from initiatives such as the National Institutes of Health Roadmap to the Future; 


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•SRES 204 IS 

Whereas the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect is 

an example of how collaboration, technological innovation, 

scientific momentum, and public-private partnerships can 

generate therapeutic interventions that directly benefit 

the people and families suffering from the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; 

Whereas collaboration, technological innovation, scientific momentum, and public-private partnerships can save billions 

of Federal dollars under Medicare, Medicaid, and other 

programs for therapies, and early intervention will increase survival rates among people suffering from the 

congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; 

Whereas improvements in diagnostic technology, the expansion of scientific knowledge, and better management of 

care for patients with the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect already have increased survival rates in 

some cases; 

Whereas there is still a need for more research and increased 

awareness of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth 

defect and for an increase in funding for that research 

in order to provide a better quality of life to survivors of 

the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect, and 

more optimism for the families and health care professionals who work with children with the birth defect; 

Whereas there are thousands of volunteers nationwide dedicated to expanding research, fostering public awareness 

and understanding, educating patients and their families 

about the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect to 

improve their treatment and care, providing appropriate 

moral support, and encouraging people to become organ 

donors; and 


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•SRES 204 IS 

Whereas volunteers engage in an annual national awareness 

event held on March 31, making that day an appropriate 

time to recognize National Congenital Diaphragmatic 

Hernia Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 31, 2010, as ‘‘National 

3 Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of a national 

5 day to raise public awareness and understanding of 

6 the congenital diaphragmatic hernia birth defect; 

7 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 

8 into a cure for the congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

9 birth defect; and 

10 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

11 and interested groups to support National Con12 genital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day 

13 through appropriate ceremonies and activities, to 

14 promote public awareness of the congenital dia15 phragmatic hernia birth defect, and to foster under16 standing of the impact of the disease on patients 

17 and their families. 

Æ 


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