Frank Pallone: “I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1440, as amended. The legislation before us extends two existing programs and…”

“I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1440, as amended. The legislation before us extends two existing programs and creates one new initiative, all activities that impact children's health. The first title of the legislation reauthorizes the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early, or PREEMIE, Act through fiscal year 2017. The PREEMIE Act was signed into law in 2006, and I was proud to be a cosponsor of the original House legislation. S. 1440, as amended, calls for further studies on factors related to prematurity, improved data on the national burden of preterm birth, continued preterm birth prevention efforts, and strengthened public and health provider education on risk factors for preterm delivery and treatments and outcomes for preterm infants. The legislation also codifies an advisory committee to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on infant mortality and directs the Secretary to coordinate existing quality studies on hospital readmissions and preterm infants. Since the enactment of the PREEMIE Act, we've seen the preterm birth rate decline to its present level of just under 12 percent, the lowest rate we've seen since the late nineties. The good news is there's been progress in better understanding the causes of premature births and promoting interventions that work.…”