2023 House Resolution 31

Whereas, Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the number 1 birth defect. Forty-thousand infants are born in the United States each year with a congenital heart defect. Infant deaths due to CHD often occur during the neonatal period when the baby is less than 28 days old. About 25 percent of children born with critical CHD need heart surgery or other interventions to survive. Ninety-seven percent of babies born with non-critical CHD are expected to survive to one year of age and about 95 percent of babies born with a non-critical CHD are expected to survive to 18 years of age; and

Whereas, There are an estimated 2-3 million people living with congenital heart defect. In the United States, hospital costs for the population of individuals with cardiovascular defects in 2013 were about $6.1 billion. Pediatric hospitalizations with CHDs accounted for approximately $5.6 billion in hospital costs, representing 15.1% of costs for all pediatric hospitalizations in 2009. At least 15% of CHDs are associated with genetic conditions and about 20% to 30% of people with a CHD have other physical problems or developmental or cognitive disorders; and

Whereas, There is no cure for CHD. However, more and more children are surviving thanks to advances in medical research; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare February 7-14, 2023, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week in the state of Michigan. We urge all citizens to show their support and help raise awareness in the fight against congenital heart defects.