[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 429 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 429

  Designating September 2025 as ``National Infant Mortality Awareness 
Month'', raising awareness of infant mortality, and increasing efforts 
                      to reduce infant mortality.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 30, 2025

 Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Ossoff) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating September 2025 as ``National Infant Mortality Awareness 
Month'', raising awareness of infant mortality, and increasing efforts 
                      to reduce infant mortality.

Whereas the term ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby before the 
        first birthday of the baby;
Whereas the United States ranks 33rd out of the 38 countries in the Organisation 
        for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for infant mortality 
        rate, with 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births;
Whereas high rates of infant mortality are especially prevalent in African 
        American, Native American, Alaskan Native, Latino, Asian, and Hawaiian 
        and other Pacific Islander communities, communities with high rates of 
        unemployment and poverty, and communities with limited access to medical 
        providers;
Whereas premature birth and low birth weight are leading causes of infant 
        mortality;
Whereas the United States spends nearly twice as much on health care as other 
        OECD countries;
Whereas infant mortality can be substantially reduced through community-based 
        services, such as outreach, home visitation, care coordination, health 
        education, interconceptional care, and paternal involvement;
Whereas support for community-based programs to reduce infant mortality may 
        result in lower future spending on medical interventions, special 
        education, and other social services that may be needed for infants and 
        children born with a low birth weight;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has implemented the Newborn 
        Supply Kit program;
Whereas the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) provides 
        information that is vital to addressing preterm birth rates and 
        conditions that put babies at risk;
Whereas the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Healthy Start program has invested 
        in communities facing high rates of infant mortality and maternal 
        illness to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy;
Whereas the Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality provides advice and 
        recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on 
        improving the health status of infants and pregnant women and on a 
        national strategy for reducing infant mortality;
Whereas the Secretary of Health and Human Services is encouraged to partner with 
        educational institutions and States to increase maternal health and 
        infant health initiatives; and
Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant mortality are held 
        during the month of September each year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2025 as ``National Infant 
        Mortality Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports efforts--
                    (A) to educate people in the United States about 
                infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
                infant mortality; and
                    (B) to reduce infant deaths, low birth weight, pre-
                term births, and disparities in perinatal outcomes;
            (3) recognizes the critical importance of including efforts 
        to reduce infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
        infant mortality as part of prevention and wellness strategies; 
        and
            (4) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
        National Infant Mortality Awareness Month with appropriate 
        programs and activities.
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