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) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs, 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, com-
plications 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 per-
cent 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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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 sur-
vival 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 in-
fant death in the United States; 
Whereas while the United States preterm birth rate de-
creased from a peak of 12.8 percent in 2006 to 9.8 per-
cent 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 persist-
ently high rates of preterm birth; 
Whereas many United States communities experience signifi-
cant 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 evi-
dence-based public health programs focused on reducing 
risk factors, such as tobacco use, inadequate birth spac-
ing, and early elective deliveries; and 
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Whereas in the United States and around the world Novem-
ber is recognized as Prematurity Awareness Month: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the recognition of Prematurity 
Awareness Month; 
(2) supports efforts at home and abroad to— 
(A) reduce the impact of preterm births by 
improving maternal health prepregnancy and 
postpregnancy; and 
(B) advance the care and treatment of in-
fants born preterm; 
(3) honors those working domestically and 
internationally to reduce preterm births; and 
(4) expresses the intent of the House of Rep-
resentatives to promote evidence-based prevention 
interventions to prevent preterm birth and improve 
outcomes for affected infants. 
Æ 
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