By getting the message out, we can help families across the country have healthy babies and save the lives of thousands of babies each year.

Today, I, along with my colleague Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, am introducing the Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1999.

The Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1999 will provide for a national folic acid education program to prevent birth defects.

Each year an estimated 2,500 babies are born in the United States with serious birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects.

However, up to 70% of neural tube birth defects could be prevented if women of childbearing age consumed 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.

What makes our team so special is that the U.S. women's national soccer program stands in stark contrast to many of its competitors who rely on a government-run or government-financed training system.

Saturday's victory represents a first in many ways. It was the largest women's world championship in history.

On Saturday, in front of over 90,000 adoring fans, the United States Women's Team won the 1999 Women's World Cup.

On Saturday, in front of over 90,000 adoring fans, the United States Women's Team won the 1999 Women's World Cup.

The excellence of our team sends a powerful and positive message to the world about the importance of women's athletics and its value in building confidence, character and self-esteem for our young women.

Our team helped to raise soccer and women's sports to new levels, both in America and internationally.

The Women's World Cup and the U.S. national team in particular showed us that women's soccer and women's sports can be just as captivating, just as athletic, just as powerful, and just as competitive as men's sports.