Roy Blunt: “in spite of the fact that the United States has the most advanced health care system in the world, 3 percent of our…”

“in spite of the fact that the United States has the most advanced health care system in the world, 3 percent of our children are born with birth defects. Approximately 150,000 babies are born each year in this country with a serious birth defect. Although some birth defects are minor and have no permanent consequences, others cause permanent disability, which necessitates constant medical care, special education and other services that cost victims and their families countless tears and thousands of dollars each year. All too often serious birth defects result in death. In fact, birth defects are the leading cause of infant death in America today. Next week, the House will consider legislation that could dramatically reduce the incidence of birth defects in America. The Birth Defects Prevention Act, sponsored by Senator Kit Bond and passed by the Senate last year, would direct the Centers for Disease Control to serve as the national clearinghouse for the collection and storage of data on birth defects, help states establish birth defect surveillance programs or improve existing ones, and make grants available to the public and nonprofit organizations to develop and implement birth defect prevention strategies.”