Bill > HRes1297

This Resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating May 17, 2026, as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day" in order to highlight a devastating and costly condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, which is a severe inflammatory disease that causes intestinal tissue damage and is the leading cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age. The resolution provides important context regarding the condition, noting that it primarily affects babies born prematurely or with medical complications like congenital heart disease, disproportionately harms Black infants, and currently has no cure or foolproof prevention method, though risks can be reduced through preventative measures such as feeding vulnerable infants human breast milk or pasteurized donor milk rather than formula. By establishing this awareness day, the measure seeks to unite Americans, encourage partnerships between healthcare providers and families, and address the vast emotional toll and billions of dollars in annual hospitalization expenses associated with the disease.