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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hr346ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 346

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding prenatal 
                      care for women and children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2002

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Ms. Hart, 
  Mrs. Myrick, and Mrs. Northup) submitted the following resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding prenatal 
                      care for women and children.

Whereas unborn children benefit from quality prenatal health care;
Whereas the levels of infant mortality, premature delivery, and low birthweight 
        are exceedingly high in the United States as compared with other 
        developed countries;
Whereas low birthweight and premature delivery are causally associated with 
        developmental disabilities among children;
Whereas proper prenatal care can prevent avoidable birth defects;
Whereas new medical advances, together with early diagnosis, can treat children 
        with a wide range of disorders including spina bifida, HIV/AIDS, fetal 
        distress, and anemia;
Whereas fetal surgery is now able to correct many life-threatening congenital 
        disorders;
Whereas pregnant women benefit from quality health care, including physician 
        care, hospital care, and prescription medications;
Whereas prenatal care can prevent medical and surgical complications that a 
        mother may encounter during pregnancy and birth;
Whereas prenatal care can identify and treat a mother's preexisting medical 
        conditions which may be impacted by pregnancy;
Whereas an estimated 10,900,000 women of childbearing age (18-44) do not have 
        health insurance;
Whereas the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), created under 
        title XXI of the Social Security Act, expands health coverage to 
        uninsured children whose families earn too much for medicaid but too 
        little to afford private coverage; and
Whereas on January 31, 2002, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy 
        Thompson, proposed a regulation to allow States to include coverage for 
        children from conception to age 19, which would allow low-income 
        pregnant mothers to receive prenatal and delivery care: Now, therefore, 
        be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy 
        Thompson, for moving to immediately make SCHIP resources 
        available to States to care for unborn children and pregnant 
        mothers; and
            (2) commends Secretary Thompson for recognizing pregnant 
        mothers and unborn children as deserving of concern about their 
        health and well-being.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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