Contact:  Kara Brennan 248-359-1577, Char Yates 248-359-1574

March of Dimes National Public Affairs Leadership Award Presented to
Representative John Dingell

(Southfield), (MI) (October 23, 2007)--Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI)  received the March of Dimes 2007 National Public Affairs Leadership Award on October 18 in Washington, D.C.  As Chair of the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chairman Dingell’s leadership on numerous bills to improve the health of mothers, infants, and children has been visionary.  We note especially the importance of Chairman Dingell’s guidance in securing Congressional support for strengthening the State Children’s Health Insurance Program on which millions of low income children and pregnant women rely for their health coverage. Chairman Dingell also received the Foundation’s Public Affairs Leadership Award in 2003.
 
The March of Dimes National Public Affairs Award recognizes outstanding leadership by Members of Congress and the Executive Branch in the fields of maternal and child health and not-for-profit public policy.  The Michigan Chapter of the March of Dimes presented the award to Representative Dingell at the Foundation’s National Public Affairs Conference.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defect, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a multi-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.

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