On Monday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers Who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act, which lapsed on September 30, 2023. The original PREEMIE Act empowers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to delve into research on preterm births and grants the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to assess pregnancy risks and prevent premature deliveries. Under the proposed PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3226), these crucial initiatives would be extended through 2028.
The bill also mandates HHS support a study examining the social and financial factors contributing to preterm births and establishes an interagency working group aimed at preventing preterm births and reducing infant mortality. With a growing bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors, the bill now advances to the U.S. Senate. The National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT) applauds the House’s commitment to expectant parents and infants and urges the Senate to vote to reauthorize these vital programs.
Author:
Branden J. Reis
Associate Government Relations Manager
National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers
branden.reis@heart.org
