H.Res. 1297

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1297 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1297

Expressing support for the designation of May 17, 2026, as 
``Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day''.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2026

Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Kiley of California, and 
Mrs. Miller of West Virginia) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

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RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of May 17, 2026, as 
``Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day''.

Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common cause of death in 
hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age;
Whereas babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, like congenital 
heart disease, are most at risk of NEC;
Whereas thousands of babies develop NEC each year and hundreds of babies die 
from this complex condition;
Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis causes a severe inflammatory process that can 
lead to intestinal tissue damage and death and, once NEC is diagnosed, 
many babies only live for a few hours or days;
Whereas surgery for NEC is not curative, and the babies who survive often have 
lifelong neurological and nutritional complications;
Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis results in approximately $5,000,000,000 of 
hospitalization expenses per year and roughly 19 percent of neonatal 
health care expenditures in the United States, with an estimated cost of 
$200,000 or more for each case of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis;
Whereas breast milk is one of the most effective ways to help prevent 
necrotizing enterocolitis in medically fragile infants, and when the 
mother's milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk is the next-
safest option for babies at risk of NEC;
Whereas formula does not protect against the risk of NEC in medically fragile 
infants, and infants at risk of NEC receive the most protection from 
their mother's own milk and pasteurized donor milk;
Whereas, although the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis cannot be fully 
eliminated and there are not yet sure ways to stop or cure NEC, 
preventative measures are effective at reducing risks;
Whereas parents must be trusted and valued as the most important member of their 
baby's care team, and health care providers should partner with families 
to provide the best care for infants at risk of NEC;
Whereas necrotizing enterocolitis can develop in both premature babies and 
babies born at term, and more data is desperately needed to better 
understand how and why NEC occurs in preterm and term infants;
Whereas disparities and variation in care lead to Black infants being 
disproportionately affected by, and dying from, necrotizing 
enterocolitis compared to White infants; and
Whereas to build a world without necrotizing enterocolitis and improve outcomes 
for infants and families, we must bring Americans together to raise 
awareness about this devastating neonatal disease: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of raising awareness about 
necrotizing enterocolitis; and
(2) expresses support for the designation of ``Necrotizing 
Enterocolitis Awareness Day''.
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