HR0750 LRB095 13922 GRL 39705 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives of the State of Illinois wish to recognize the
4 dedication and efforts of the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter
5 and its volunteers, who have been fighting for the health and
6 well-being of America's children for over 67 years, and who are
7 now taking on the problem of premature births; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives recognizes
9 that prematurity is the leading cause of death among babies
10 from birth to one year old in the United States; those babies
11 that survive are susceptible to life-long disabilities, such as
12 chronic lung 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;

 

 

HR0750 - 2 - LRB095 13922 GRL 39705 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14 proclaim November 13, 2007 to be Premature Birth Awareness Day
15 in the State of Illinois and encourage all citizens to be
16 cognizant of the outstanding life-saving services provided to
17 the people of Illinois by the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter;
18 and be it 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.