HR0806 LRB094 16116 HSS 51355 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois recognize the dedication and efforts of the
4 March of Dimes Illinois Chapter and its volunteers who for over
5 67 years have been fighting for the health and well-being of
6 America's children and are now taking on the problem of
7 premature births; and
 
8     WHEREAS, More than a half million babies were born too soon
9 in the United States last year, according to preliminary data
10 released by the National Center for Health Statistics, and
11 approximately 12.5% of all babies - about 508,000 - were born
12 prematurely (less than 37 completed weeks gestation) in 2004,
13 according to "Preliminary Births for 2004: Infant and Maternal
14 Health" released by the March of Dimes during its Third Annual
15 National "Prematurity Awareness Day"; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter has made a
17 difference in the lives of over 22,000 premature babies
18 annually born in Illinois; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter is recognized
20 for its programs to improve prematurity risk detection and
21 prevent preterm births; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Thanks to the research and education programs
23 funded by the March of Dimes, every premature baby born has an
24 increased chance for survival; and
 
25     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter serves as a
26 resource for information about healthy pregnancies and
27 premature births; and
 
28     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter works to
29 increase awareness of the risk factors associated with

 

 

HR0806 - 2 - LRB094 16116 HSS 51355 r

1 premature birth such as smoking, drinking, and substance use;
2 and
 
3     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter has
4 successfully advocated to expand access to health coverage for
5 pregnant women, infants, and children; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes annually promotes November as
7 "Prematurity Awareness Month" and November 15 as "Prematurity
8 Awareness Day" to recognize the serious crisis of premature
9 birth; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12 we do hereby proclaim November 15, 2006, as Premature Birth
13 Awareness Day in Illinois and encourage all citizens to be
14 cognizant of the many wonderful and lifesaving services the
15 March of Dimes Illinois Chapter provides to the people of
16 Illinois; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter as an
19 expression of our esteem.