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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate of the State of
3 Illinois wish to recognize the dedication and efforts of the
4 March of Dimes Illinois Chapter and its volunteers, who have
5 been fighting for the health and well-being of America's
6 children for over 67 years, and who are now taking on the
7 problem of premature births; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate recognizes that prematurity
9 is the leading cause of death among babies from birth to one
10 year old in the United States; those babies that survive are
11 susceptible to life-long disabilities, such as chronic lung
12 disease, blindness, and cerebral palsy; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Prematurity costs Illinois families and
14 communities millions of dollars each year in care and
15 treatment; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Sadly, the number of premature births has risen
17 approximately 27 percent over the last 2 decades; today, nearly
18 500,000 babies are prematurely born in the United States each
19 year; and
 
20     WHEREAS, There are more than 23,000 premature births in the
21 State of Illinois, or approximately one in every 8 births;

 

 

SR0379 - 2 - LRB095 13923 GRL 39706 r

1 prematurity is clearly a significant and alarming problem; and
 
2     WHEREAS, In response to this problem, the March of Dimes is
3 leading a national campaign to save babies from premature birth
4 by funding research to find the causes of prematurity and by
5 aiding local programs that that provide assistance to families
6 with babies that are born premature; and
 
7     WHEREAS, In November of 2007, the March of Dimes will
8 coordinate activities throughout the country with help from
9 many local healthcare professionals and government agencies
10 and departments to call attention to premature birth and to
11 offer hope to families affected by it; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim November
14 13, 2007 to be Premature Birth Awareness Day in the State of
15 Illinois and encourage all citizens to be cognizant of the
16 outstanding life-saving services provided to the people of
17 Illinois by the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter; and be it
18 further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter as an
21 expression of our extreme gratitude.