The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8 voted 405-20 to pass a bipartisan bill offered by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) that seeks to reauthorize federal protections for children suffering from birth defects and other developmental disorders.
“I am encouraged by the bipartisan agreement that children suffering from developmental disorders deserve adequate funding and resources,” Rep. Carter said. “As this bill heads to the Senate, I will continue fighting to ensure that programs essential to finding cures and supplying treatment for life-threatening disorders are properly supported by the federal government.”
The Improving Health of Children Act, H.R. 5551, which Rep. Carter sponsored in October with four original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA), would reauthorize programs and activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for researching and preventing birth defects, developmental disabilities, and other conditions through fiscal year 2026, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Specifically, H.R. 5551 would reauthorize the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, which conducts activities to advance the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including infants with birth defects, children with developmental disabilities, and individuals of all ages with disabilities or blood disorders, the summary says.
“Since its creation two decades ago, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has worked to ensure people living with disabilities are given the dignity, respect, and opportunities they need to succeed,” said Rep. Trahan. “This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize the center for the first time in 15 years and provide it with the funding and resources necessary to support more than a dozen essential programs.”
In addition, H.R. 5551 would reauthorize a CDC program that supports research on and raises awareness about the effects of folic acid in preventing birth defects.
“There is no cause more deserving of Congress’s time and attention than that of protecting young lives,” said Rep. Carter last week.
The U.S. Senate received the bill on Dec. 9 and referred it to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.