A resolution designating April 2016 as "National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month".

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Designates April 2016 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:

• raise awareness of and increase public knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH);
• inform all Americans about the dangers of CDH;
• disseminate information on the importance of quality neonatal care for CDH patients;
• promote quality prenatal care and the use of ultrasounds to detect CDH in utero; and
• support research funding of CDH to improve screening and treatment, discover its causes, and develop a cure.

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 408 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 408

 Designating April 2016 as ``National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 17, 2016

   Mr. Sessions (for himself and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating April 2016 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 3,836 live births worldwide;
Whereas in the United States, CDH affects approximately 1,088 babies each year;
Whereas since 2000, CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies worldwide;
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 2015 is estimated to be not more than $3,300,000: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates April 2016 as ``National Congenital 
        Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month'';
            (2) encourages that steps should be taken--
                    (A) to raise awareness of and increase public 
                knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
                (referred to in this resolving clause as ``CDH'');
                    (B) to inform all people of the United States about 
                the dangers of CDH, especially groups of people that 
                may be disproportionately affected by CDH or have lower 
                survival rates;
                    (C) to disseminate information on the importance of 
                quality neonatal care of CDH patients;
                    (D) to promote quality prenatal care and 
                ultrasounds to detect CDH in utero; and
                    (E) to support research funding of CDH--
                            (i) to improve screening and treatment for 
                        CDH;
                            (ii) to discover the causes of CDH; and
                            (iii) to develop a cure for CDH; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
        groups, and affected persons--
                    (A) to promote awareness of CDH;
                    (B) to take an active role in the fight against 
                this devastating birth defect; and
                    (C) to observe National Congenital Diaphragmatic 
                Hernia Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.
                                 <all>