March of Dimes Urges Congress to Advance Healthy Start

September 17, 2008, Washington, D.C.:  Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes, made the following statement concerning the scheduled markup of the “Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007" (S. 1760):
 
"The March of Dimes recognizes the Healthy Start Program as a valuable national resource addressing some of our country's most pressing health care issues including eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in preterm and low birthweight newborns and improving maternal health.  The March of Dimes has supported Healthy Start since its inception in 1991, providing financial assistance for its initial five-year demonstration designed to reduce infant mortality rates and since then working collaboratively with programs in communities across the nation. 
 
"The March of Dimes calls on Congress to send this bill to the President’s desk before adjourning."