Clinton, Dodd and others rally for Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act

March of Dimes held a news conference today in conjunction with Hunter’s Hope and Save Babies Through Screening Foundation, Inc. Senators Clinton, Dodd and Congressman Thomas Reynolds in addition to pro football hall of fame member Jim Kelly were on hand to show their support and rally for the swift approval of this bill.

“Newborn screening is a vital public health activity that is essential for preventing the devastating consequences of certain metabolic, hormonal, genetic and or functional disorders not clinically recognizable at birth,” the act reads. It is estimated that between 16,000 and 20,000 newborns are afflicted “with one of the 29 treatable conditions for which the American College of Medical Genetics recommends screening.”

On December 13th, 2007, the Senate approved the bill and tonight, the bill will be presented in front of the full House. “The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act lays the groundwork for national screening guidelines and authorizes federal support for assistance to states to improve their programs, develop educational materials for parents and health professionals and provide follow-up and treatment for infants when disorder is detected.”