Investigating Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (H.R. 669)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 669?
(Updated December 24, 2014)
This bill was enacted on December 18, 2014
This bill would increase research and data collection on Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) and Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
The “Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act” would amend the Public Health Service Act by adding several new requirements to the law, requiring:
- The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a general protocol for autopsying children after such deaths.
- The CDC director to organize a study on the appropriateness of genetic testing on children who suffer from SUID or SUDC.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary to award grants to states that investigate cases of SUID and SUDC. HHS would also have to modify their reporting system, so that root causes of the syndromes can be be better understood.
- The HHS to provide better public education and prevention programs that would reduce stillbirths and address the racial and ethnic disparities of the syndromes.
Argument in favor
Encourages states to investigate cases of Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome, and in turn, helps doctors and legislators prevent the problem.
Argument opposed
Prevention initiatives for sudden infant death syndrome are already in place. Adding more requirements is a waste of time.
Impact
Children up to the age of four, Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Cost of H.R. 669
A CBO cost estimate found that because the changes are minimal compared to what the law already requires, the costs associated with H.R. 669 are insignificant.
Additional Info
In Depth:
Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome (SUDS) is a very rare syndrome in which infants and children experience cardiac arrest. The syndrome is the leading cause of death for one year old children. The CDC says that the syndrome kills 4,000-4,500 babies a year for reasons that are unclear. H.R. 669 is an effort figure out more information about how and why SUDS occurs.
Media:
Sponsoring Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Press Release
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