Today, NANN had a presence on Capitol Hill. The March of Dimes sponsored a Congressional Briefing about the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act, HR 1281. This bill would ensure that all newborn infants continue to be screened for disorders (metabolic, hearing, congenital heart disease) that, if undetected and untreated, can lead to morbidity and mortality.
I was lucky to be able to attend the briefing on this lovely spring day and hear the distinguished panel of speakers talk about the critical work that has been carried out for the past 5 years since the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act was made law 5 years ago. The bill must now be reauthorized to allow this work to continue.
Now, it is your turn to become involved. If all NANN/NANNP members would take a couple of minutes to send a message to their representatives, asking them to cosponsor HR 1281, our voices could not be ignored. Our babies can't speak for themselves; we must do it for them. Please go to
http://www.marchofdimes.com/advocacy/prevention_newbornreauthorization.html and click on "Tell Congress." Your message can be sent in seconds.
Here are a couple of photos I took today, one showing our association's name prominently on the first slide shown at the briefing, and another of the Capitol across the street.
