AJR84: Joint Resolution Text

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2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 84

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 Relating to: recognizing November 2017 as Prematurity Awareness Month.

AJR84,1,4 Whereas, the March of Dimes Foundation is a pioneer in improving the health of infants and women of childbearing age by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality; and

AJR84,1,7 Whereas, the March of Dimes was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to fight polio, and funded the development of two vaccines — still in use today — that virtually eliminated the crippling disease; and

AJR84,1,11 Whereas, the March of Dimes in 1958, having achieved its initial mission, shifted its attention from polio to the prevention of birth defects, and through federal and state advocacy led the way in establishing a nationwide network of birth defects monitoring programs and research centers; and

AJR84,1,15 Whereas, the March of Dimes has undertaken decades of groundbreaking research in maternal and child health, which has led to the discovery of lifesaving products and tests such as surfactant therapy for premature infants and tests to identify life-threatening birth defects; and

AJR84,2,5 Whereas, the March of Dimes was a pioneer in the support of newborn screening, urging Congress to pass and fund the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which in 2008 established national guidelines on the conditions states should include in newborn programs, and through state advocacy ensured that every state screens all newborns for that core set of conditions; and

AJR84,2,9 Whereas, the March of Dimes actively advocated for the reauthorization of federal funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program which covered 167,292 children in our state in 2014, ensuring vital access to pediatric healthcare services; and

AJR84,2,14 Whereas, the March of Dimes is a long-time advocate for access to health care for women of childbearing age, infants, children, and families, ensuring they have access to private and public health coverage under private coverage, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, Title V Block Grant, and the Affordable Care Act; and

AJR84,2,19 Whereas, the March of Dimes in 2003 launched the Prematurity Campaign to address the crisis of premature birth and help families have full-term, healthy babies, and authored the Premature Research Expansion and Education Act for Mothers (PREEMIE) Act, which Congress enacted in 2006, to expand research, education, and services to fight premature births; and

AJR84,2,21 Whereas, 6,124 babies are born preterm based on obstetrical estimates in the state of Wisconsin, representing 9.2 percent of all state births; and

AJR84,2,24 Whereas, the March of Dimes has set a national goal of reducing preterm births to 5.5 percent in every state by 2030, which will result in a healthier start in life for tens of thousands of infants; and

AJR84,3,2 Whereas, the March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter has worked extensively to promote newborn screening in the state of Wisconsin; and

AJR84,3,5 Whereas, the March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter looks forward to partnering with the Wisconsin State Legislature in response to the continued crisis of premature birth; and

AJR84,3,9 Whereas, the month of November is recognized as World Prematurity Awareness Month to bring about recognition of this global health crisis, and November 17 is recognized as Prematurity Awareness Day across the United States; and

AJR84,3,12 Whereas, the March of Dimes sponsors numerous programs to support healthy pregnancies and infants, such as its work to prevent early elective deliveries and the NICU Family Support program; and

AJR84,3,15 Whereas, the March of Dimes and its volunteers continue to advocate for national and state health policies and programs that affect women of childbearing age, infants, children, and families; now, therefore, be it

AJR84,3,17 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature hereby proclaims November 2017 as Prematurity Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

AJR84,3,18 (End)