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HJ0111 |
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LRB096 21411 KTG 37718 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Nearly one in 8 babies born in Illinois is born |
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| preterm, 13.3% of Illinois babies in total; and
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| WHEREAS, The percentage of preterm births in Illinois has |
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| increased by 15%; and
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| WHEREAS, The rate of preterm births in Illinois is highest |
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| for African-American infants (19.3%) followed by Native |
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| Americans (15.6%), Hispanics (12.1%), Caucasians (11.9%) and |
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| Asians (10.7%); and
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| WHEREAS, African-American infants (19.3%) are about two |
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| times as likely as Asian infants (10.7%) to be born preterm; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, Major risk factors for preterm and very preterm |
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| births include multiple births, history of preterm delivery, |
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| stress, infection, smoking, and illicit drug use; and
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| WHEREAS, In the United States, preterm birth or low birth |
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| weight is the 2nd leading cause of all infant deaths during the |
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| first year of life and the leading cause of infant deaths among |
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| African-American infants; and
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HJ0111 |
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LRB096 21411 KTG 37718 r |
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| WHEREAS, The global toll of preterm births is severe; and |
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| an estimated 28% of the 4 million annual neonatal deaths are |
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| due to preterm births; and
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| WHEREAS, Children born preterm have higher rates of |
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| learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, sensory deficits, and |
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| respiratory illnesses compared to children born at term; and
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| WHEREAS, To be most effective, preventive strategies |
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| should involve strengthening existing reproductive, maternal, |
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| newborn, and child health care programs to encourage synergies |
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| of preterm birth care while, at the same time, stimulating |
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| fresh thinking and innovative new approaches to prevention; |
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| therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE |
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| SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that a task force shall be created to |
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| investigate how Illinois can reduce the incidence of preterm |
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| births in Illinois; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That the task force shall be composed of the |
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| Director of Public Health, or his or her designee, who shall |
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| serve as the Chair of the task force; 2 members of the State |
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| Board of Health; the Director of the Maternal and Child Health |
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| Advisory Board; a neonatologist; a social worker; a preemie |
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HJ0111 |
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LRB096 21411 KTG 37718 r |
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| nurse; a representative of an organization whose main focus is |
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| on preterm births; 2 members of the Illinois House of |
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| Representatives, one of whom shall be named by the Speaker of |
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| the House, and one of whom shall be named by the Minority |
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| Leader of the House; and 2 members of the Senate, one of whom |
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| shall be named by the President of the Senate and one of whom |
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| shall be named by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it |
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| further
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| RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Public Health |
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| shall provide or work with stakeholders to provide logistical |
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| and support staff to the task force; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That the task force shall, in a written report |
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| that is to be delivered to the General Assembly on or before |
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| November 1, 2011, make findings and recommendations concerning |
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| reducing preterm births in Illinois; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to |
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| the Director of the Department of Public Health.
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