1Designating February 7 through 14, 2014, as "Congenital Heart
2Defect Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Designating February 7 through 14, 2014, as
4Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week in Pennsylvania promotes
5greater public awareness about congenital heart defects; and

6WHEREAS, Congenital heart defects are the most common type of
7birth defects in the United States; and

8WHEREAS, Each year approximately 40,000 babies in the United
9States are born with congenital heart defects; and  

10WHEREAS, Pulse oximetry newborn screenings can identify some
11infants with congenital heart defects before they show signs of
12the condition; and

13WHEREAS, A pulse oximetry newborn screening is a noninvasive
14test to identify the levels of hemoglobin in the blood; and

15WHEREAS, Once congenital heart defects are identified, babies
16can receive treatment that can prevent death or disability; and

17WHEREAS, More than 50% of all children born with congenital

1heart defects will require at least one invasive surgery in
2their lifetime; and

3WHEREAS, Almost half of all children and adults with complex
4congenital heart defects have neurological and developmental
5disabilities; and

6WHEREAS, For every dollar the Commonwealth spends on medical
7funding, only a fraction of a penny is directed toward
8congenital heart defect research; and

9WHEREAS, Over the last decade, death rates for congenital
10heart defects have declined by almost 30% due to advances made
11through congenital heart defect research; and

12WHEREAS, There are approximately two million congenital heart
13defect survivors in the United States; and

14WHEREAS, Greater public awareness about congenital heart
15defects and the use of pulse oximetry newborn screenings can
16save lives; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of February 7
18through 14, 2014, as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" in
19Pennsylvania.