Title: A resolution designating April 2017 as "National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Designates April 2017 as National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month. (Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth.)
Encourages that steps should be taken to:

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 128 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 128

 Designating April 2017 as ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 7, 2017

   Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Strange) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating April 2017 as ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia (referred to in this preamble as 
        ``CDH'') occurs in individuals in which the diaphragm fails to fully 
        form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and 
        preventing lung growth;
Whereas the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
        recognizes CDH as a birth defect;
Whereas the majority of CDH patients suffer from underdeveloped lungs or poor 
        pulmonary function;
Whereas babies born with CDH endure extended hospital stays in intensive care 
        with multiple surgeries;
Whereas CDH patients often endure long-term complications, such as pulmonary 
        hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, asthma, gastrointestinal reflux, 
        feeding disorders, and developmental delays;
Whereas CDH survivors sometimes endure long-term mechanical ventilation 
        dependency, skeletal malformations, supplemental oxygen dependency, 
        enteral and parenteral nutrition, and hypoxic brain injury;
Whereas CDH is treated through mechanical ventilation, a heart and lung bypass 
        (commonly known as ``extracorporeal membrane oxygenation''), machines, 
        and surgical repair;
Whereas surgical repair is often not a permanent solution for CDH and can lead 
        to reherniation and require additional surgery;
Whereas CDH is diagnosed in utero in less than 50 percent of cases;
Whereas infants born with CDH have a high mortality rate, ranging from 20 to 60 
        percent, depending on the severity of the defect and interventions 
        available at delivery;
Whereas CDH has a rate of occurrence of 1 in every 2,500 live births worldwide;
Whereas in the United States, CDH affects approximately 1,600 babies each year;
Whereas since 2000, CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies worldwide since 
        2000;
Whereas CDH does not discriminate based on race, gender, or socioeconomic 
        status;
Whereas the cause of CDH is unknown;
Whereas the average CDH survivor will face postnatal care that totals not less 
        than $100,000; and
Whereas Federal support for CDH research at the National Institutes of Health 
        for 2017 is estimated to be not more than $4,000,000: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates April 2017 as ``National Congenital 
        Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month'';
            (2) encourages that steps should be taken to--
                    (A) raise awareness of and increase public 
                knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
                (referred to in this resolving clause as ``CDH'');
                    (B) inform all Americans about the dangers of CDH, 
                especially groups of people that may be 
                disproportionately affected by CDH or have lower 
                survival rates;
                    (C) disseminate information on the importance of 
                quality neonatal care of CDH patients;
                    (D) promote quality prenatal care and ultrasounds 
                to detect CDH in utero; and
                    (E) support research funding of CDH to--
                            (i) improve screening and treatment for 
                        CDH;
                            (ii) discover the causes of CDH; and
                            (iii) develop a cure for CDH; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
        groups, and affected persons to--
                    (A) promote awareness of CDH;
                    (B) take an active role in the fight against this 
                devastating birth defect; and
                    (C) observe National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
                Hernia Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.
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