LRB-4759/1
CMH:emw
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
November 6, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Rodriguez, Ballweg, Crowley,
Milroy, Sargent, Sinicki and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Senators L. Taylor
and Darling. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AJR84,1,1 1Relating to: recognizing November 2017 as Prematurity Awareness Month.
AJR84,1,42 Whereas, the March of Dimes Foundation is a pioneer in improving the health
3of infants and women of childbearing age by preventing birth defects, premature
4birth, and infant mortality; and
AJR84,1,75 Whereas, the March of Dimes was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
6in 1938 to fight polio, and funded the development of two vaccines — still in use today
7— that virtually eliminated the crippling disease; and
AJR84,1,118 Whereas, the March of Dimes in 1958, having achieved its initial mission,
9shifted its attention from polio to the prevention of birth defects, and through federal
10and state advocacy led the way in establishing a nationwide network of birth defects
11monitoring programs and research centers; and
AJR84,1,1512 Whereas, the March of Dimes has undertaken decades of groundbreaking
13research in maternal and child health, which has led to the discovery of lifesaving
14products and tests such as surfactant therapy for premature infants and tests to
15identify life-threatening birth defects; and
AJR84,2,5
1Whereas, the March of Dimes was a pioneer in the support of newborn
2screening, urging Congress to pass and fund the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act,
3which in 2008 established national guidelines on the conditions states should
4include in newborn programs, and through state advocacy ensured that every state
5screens all newborns for that core set of conditions; and
AJR84,2,96 Whereas, the March of Dimes actively advocated for the reauthorization of
7federal funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program which covered 167,292
8children in our state in 2014, ensuring vital access to pediatric healthcare services;
9and
AJR84,2,1410 Whereas, the March of Dimes is a long-time advocate for access to health care
11for women of childbearing age, infants, children, and families, ensuring they have
12access to private and public health coverage under private coverage, the State
13Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, Title V Block Grant, and the
14Affordable Care Act; and
AJR84,2,1915 Whereas, the March of Dimes in 2003 launched the Prematurity Campaign to
16address the crisis of premature birth and help families have full-term, healthy
17babies, and authored the Premature Research Expansion and Education Act for
18Mothers (PREEMIE) Act, which Congress enacted in 2006, to expand research,
19education, and services to fight premature births; and
AJR84,2,2120 Whereas, 6,124 babies are born preterm based on obstetrical estimates in the
21state of Wisconsin, representing 9.2 percent of all state births; and
AJR84,2,2422 Whereas, the March of Dimes has set a national goal of reducing preterm births
23to 5.5 percent in every state by 2030, which will result in a healthier start in life for
24tens of thousands of infants; and
AJR84,3,2
1Whereas, the March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter has worked extensively to
2promote newborn screening in the state of Wisconsin; and
AJR84,3,53 Whereas, the March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter looks forward to partnering
4with the Wisconsin State Legislature in response to the continued crisis of premature
5birth; and
AJR84,3,96 Whereas, the month of November is recognized as World Prematurity
7Awareness Month to bring about recognition of this global health crisis, and
8November 17 is recognized as Prematurity Awareness Day across the United States;
9and
AJR84,3,1210 Whereas, the March of Dimes sponsors numerous programs to support healthy
11pregnancies and infants, such as its work to prevent early elective deliveries and the
12NICU Family Support program; and
AJR84,3,1513 Whereas, the March of Dimes and its volunteers continue to advocate for
14national and state health policies and programs that affect women of childbearing
15age, infants, children, and families; now, therefore, be it
AJR84,3,17 16Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature
17hereby proclaims November 2017 as Prematurity Awareness Month in Wisconsin.
AJR84,3,1818 (End)
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