River Bend Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 29, 2023, U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) alongside U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), and Michael Burgess (R-Texas) welcomed growing support for their Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act of 2023 from 84 maternal and infant health organizations. In their letters to Senate and House lawmakers, the organizations express the importance of the legislation to improve pregnancy outcomes and infant health by continuing research and education programs aimed at preventing preterm births.  

“Babies born prematurely already have a steep hill to climb. The ‘Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act,’ ensures that preterm babies have a shot at a healthy start,” said Miller-Meeks. “I’m proud to lead this bicameral, bipartisan effort to support research and educational programs that will uncover the cause and impact of preterm births as well as explore treatment options for maternal depression. I urge my colleagues to support the reauthorization of this bill and support maternal health.” 

“U.S. preterm birth rate has steadily increased since 2014 to 10.5% in 2021, with a significant 4% increase in just one year and the highest recorded rate since 2007. This represents an increase to 383,082 preterm births,” wrote the group. “While many risk factors associated with preterm birth have been identified, the biological basis for many of these risk factors and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This is particularly true for social and structural disparities. The PREEMIE Act will help reduce preterm birth, prevent newborn death and disability caused by preterm birth, expand research into the causes of preterm birth, and promote the development, availability, and use of evidence-based standards of care for pregnant women.” 

“I’m encouraged to see growing support for our PREEMIE Act from health care providers, mothers, and maternal and infant health organizations across the country,” said Bennet. “I’ll keep working across the aisle to reauthorize the PREEMIE Act this year to address the increasing trend of preterm birth and to ensure mothers and babies have access to the care they need.” 

“The importance of improving maternal care and supporting the needs of babies is clear. I appreciate the support of March of Dimes and other organizations that are making this legislation a key policy priority. It’s necessary that we take action to reduce infant mortality and preterm births. I will continue to encourage my colleagues to advance this bill to deliver help to Arkansas moms and infants,” said Boozman. 

“Every baby deserves a healthy start and reauthorizing the PREEMIE Act will help us toward that goal. Since it was first passed in 2006, the PREEMIE Act has helped researchers and doctors identify the causes of premature births and work to prevent them. Today’s coalition letter shows that our bipartisan legislation has broad support, and I urge my colleagues to swiftly reauthorize this important program,” said Eshoo."I am grateful to the many March of Dimes advocates who are committed to seeing the PREEMIE Act Reauthorization of 2023 pass," said Kelly. “This bipartisan legislation will equip our medical providers and our communities with the best practices and resources to help produce better outcomes for premature babies and their mothers." 

"I served as an OBGYN in North Texas for nearly 30 years, so I know firsthand the importance of giving every baby a healthy start in life. That's why I strongly support the PREEMIE ACT, which provides critical support to make that a reality,” said Burgess. “By renewing the CDC's research and programs on preterm birth, improving national data tracking, promoting healthy pregnancies, and establishing a coordinated effort across federal agencies, we can take meaningful steps to prevent preterm birth and reduce infant mortality. This legislation is a crucial investment in the health of our nation's children, and we urge our colleagues to act swiftly to ensure its renewal." 

The PREEMIE Act reauthorizes critical federal research, education, and intervention activities to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality. The PREEMIE Act was first signed into law in 2006 to help reduce infant mortality. Bennet sponsored reauthorizations of the law in 2013 and 2018.  

Specifically, the legislation reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s research and data collection on infants born premature and programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration aimed at improving the treatment and outcome of infants born premature. This includes grants to help doctors and the public understand the potential risk factors for having a preterm baby, such as smoking, and grants to screen and treat pregnant people for depression, and substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders. The legislation also authorizes a study to better understand the factors that lead to preterm birth and identify effective prevention and treatment options. These programs are set to expire on September 30, 2023.  

Original source can be found here.