Bill Text: IL HR0094 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates the 16th of every month in 2011 as Premature Birth Prevention and Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-08 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock [HR0094 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR0094-Introduced.html

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HR0094 LRB097 07105 GRL 48085 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Premature birth is a serious and growing problem
that affects families from every walk of life and in every
corner of the country; and
WHEREAS, 12.8%, or one of every eight, of all babies born
in the United States are born prematurely; and
WHEREAS, Premature births have increased by 36% since the
early 1980s; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, prematurity/low birthweight
is the second leading cause of all infant deaths in the first
year of life and the leading cause of infant death among black
infants; and
WHEREAS, Premature babies who survive may suffer life-long
consequences, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation,
chronic lung disease, and vision and hearing loss; and
WHEREAS, Preterm birth and low birth weight are a
significant financial burden in health care; and
WHEREAS, The medical, educational, and lost of
productivity costs associated with preterm birth in the United

HR0094 - 2 - LRB097 07105 GRL 48085 r
States was at least $26 billion in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Low birth weight, especially in conjunction with
environmental stress, is associated with the development of
diabetes and other chronic diseases later in life; and
WHEREAS, It is a fact that pre-term infants are more likely
to have health problems that result in re-hospitalization; and
WHEREAS, The causes of premature births are not fully
understood; and
WHEREAS, The cause of approximately half of all preterm
births is completely unknown; and
WHEREAS, To reduce the rates of preterm labor and delivery,
more research and funding is needed on the underlying causes of
preterm delivery, the prevention of preterm birth so that
babies are born full-term, and treatments improving outcomes
for infants born prematurely; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we recognize activities and programs that promote awareness of
and solutions to the dangers of premature birth across the
United States; and be it further

HR0094 - 3 - LRB097 07105 GRL 48085 r
RESOLVED, That we designate the 16th of every month in 2011
as Premature Birth Prevention and Awareness Day in the State of
Illinois; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage Congress to reauthorize the
PREEMIE Act, which is currently scheduled to expire at the end
of fiscal year 2011, to continue and enhance federal support
for research into the causes and prevention of premature birth
and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we dedicate this resolution to the memory of
Leilani Marie Decker and her courageous struggle; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the Governor, the Speaker and Minority Leader of
the Illinois House of Representatives, the President and
Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate, and the members of the
Illinois congressional delegation.