IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 144 

Expressing support for designation of April 2013 as ‘‘National Congenital 

Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 9, 2013 

Mrs. ROBY (for herself and Mr. HOLDING) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of April 2013 as ‘‘National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness 

Month’’. 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to 

migrate into the chest cavity and prevent lung growth; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines congenital diaphragmatic hernia as a birth defect; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in 1 of every 

2,500 births; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects approximately 1,600 babies each year in the United States; 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 144 IH 

Whereas the majority of congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients have underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary 

function; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients often endure long-term complications, including pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, asthma, gastrointestinal 

reflex, feeding disorders, and developmental delays; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors sometimes endure long-term mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal malformations, supplemental oxygen dependency, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and hypoxic 

brain injury; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients have a survival rate ranging from 62 percent to 90 percent depending on the severity of the defect, the treatment available 

at delivery, and whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation must be used; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia has affected more 

than 600,000 babies throughout the world since 2000; 

Whereas babies born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

endure extended hospital stays in intensive care with 

multiple surgeries; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is as common a 

birth defect as spina bifida and cystic fibrosis; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is diagnosed in 

utero in only 75 percent of cases; 

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia is treated through 

mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines (commonly known as ‘‘heart and lung bypass machines’’) and surgical repair; 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 144 IH 

Whereas patients often outgrow congenital diaphragmatic 

hernia surgical repair, leading to reherniation and requiring additional surgery; 

Whereas the occurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

does not discriminate based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status; 

Whereas the cause of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is unknown; 

Whereas the average hospital bill for a congenital diaphragmatic hernia patient is $500,000; 

Whereas the total annual cost of medical care for children 

with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the United 

States is more than $800,000,000; and 

Whereas the month of April 2013 would be an appropriate 

month to designate as ‘‘National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Con3 genital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) declares that steps should be taken to— 

5 (A) raise awareness of and increase public 

6 knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic her7 nia; 

8 (B) inform minority populations in the 

9 United States about congenital diaphragmatic 

10 hernia; 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 144 IH 

1 (C) disseminate information on the impor2 tance of good neonatal care for congenital dia3 phragmatic hernia patients; 

4 (D) promote good prenatal care and the 

5 use of ultrasounds to detect congenital dia6 phragmatic hernia in utero; and 

7 (E) encourage research on congenital dia8 phragmatic hernia in order to discover its 

9 causes, develop treatments, and find a cure; 

10 and 

11 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in12 terest groups, and affected persons to— 

13 (A) promote awareness of congenital dia14 phragmatic hernia; 

15 (B) take an active role in the fight against 

16 this devastating birth defect; and 

17 (C) observe National Congenital Diaphrag18 matic Hernia Awareness Month with appro19 priate ceremonies and activities. 

Æ 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS