Bill Text: PA HR473 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the month of November 2011 as "Prematurity Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-15)

Status: (Passed) 2011-10-26 - Adopted (198-0) [HR473 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR473-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2602
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 473 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, BAKER, BISHOP, K. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, CRUZ, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HESS, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, RAVENSTAHL, ROSS, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 24, 2011
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 24, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of November 2011 as "Prematurity Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes has declared November 2011 as
Prematurity Awareness Month to highlight for the nation the
serious public health concern of premature birth; and
WHEREAS, Most women give birth to a healthy, full-term baby,
however, premature births are not uncommon and involve much
emotional pain for the childbearing woman and her family; and
WHEREAS, Also known as preterm birth, a premature birth is
one that occurs at least three weeks before the due date for a
baby, or less than 37-weeks gestation; and
WHEREAS, Among the known risk factors for preterm birth are a
woman's use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and inadequate
preconception and prenatal care, however, prematurity in birth
may occur in women who have no known risk factors; and
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WHEREAS, Although babies may survive preterm birth, some may
require special medical care requiring weeks or months of
hospitalization, and oftentimes these babies face adverse health
conditions over the course of their lives, such as chronic
respiratory problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities,
vision and hearing loss and feeding and digestive problems; and
WHEREAS, These unfortunate health consequences require
additional medical care, and the annual costs relating to
premature births in the United States are estimated at more than
$26 billion; and
WHEREAS, Prematurity is the leading cause of death for
newborn babies and, compared to most industrialized countries,
the United States has a high rate of preterm birth, as each year
more than one-half million preterm births affecting 12.3% of all
babies occur in this nation; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, the March of Dimes expanded its campaign
worldwide to address the 13 million premature births and one
million premature deaths that occur annually across the globe;
and
WHEREAS, On November 1, 2011, the March of Dimes will release
its 2011 Premature Birth Report Card, in which the states are
assigned a grade by comparing each state's rate of premature
birth to the March of Dimes' Healthy People objective for the
nation of 7.6%; and
WHEREAS, The 2010 report card indicated that the United
States as a nation received a grade of "D" with a preterm birth
rate of 12.3%, 17 states earned a grade of "C," 20 states
received a "D," and 13 states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico failed; and
WHEREAS, With a 2010 preterm birth rate of 11.6%,
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Pennsylvania received a "D" on its report card, indicating the
serious need for improvement in reducing the number of preterm
births in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Although doctors have made exceptional progress in
the care of premature babies, more research is needed to
increase the medical community's understanding of the risk
factors for premature birth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of November 2011 as "Prematurity Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania, and recognize the serious public health concern of
prematurity in birth and the compelling need to reduce the
incidence of preterm births in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the staff
and volunteers of the March of Dimes for their considerable
efforts toward preventing preterm birth, infant mortality and
birth defects by educating and supporting women and families
regarding healthy birth.
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