Sensenbrenner Introduces Bill Supporting Pregnant Moms

Press Release

Sensenbrenner Introduces Bill Supporting Pregnant Moms

Menomonee Falls Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner today reintroduced the Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act in the House of Representatives.

The bill would enable a mother with an unborn child diagnosed with Down syndrome, or other diagnosable prenatal conditions such as Spina Bifida or Cystic Fibrosis, to receive information, referrals, and support in a number of ways.

A defining purpose of this bill would be to change the way in which healthcare providers have traditionally delivered a prenatal diagnosis. It would require doctors and genetic counselors who deliver a positive test diagnosis to expecting mothers, to provide access to timely and informative counseling about the conditions being tested for, the accuracy of such tests, and resources for obtaining support services for such conditions.

"The technology of prenatal diagnosis is changing rapidly," noted Sensenbrenner. "I remain concerned that much of the news prospective parents receive does not involve adequate information about the realities of living with a prenatal condition -- either for the baby or the baby's family. The fact is these children can lead very healthy, productive lives."

Once a prenatal condition has been diagnosed, parents can often experience deep shock at the loss of what they had previously believed was a normal pregnancy. In the midst of this shock, while experiencing symptoms of acute grief, expecting mothers may question whether or not to continue their pregnancies.

The Sensenbrenner bill would provide these mothers with support through Centers for Disease Control patient and provider outreach programs. A hotline and website for newly diagnosed patients would be established to provide them with a plethora of information. Peer support groups and networks would be formed for families of individuals with Down syndrome and other conditions to provide personal support. Additionally, links to adoption agencies which place diagnosed children with caring families would be maintained.

"Our responsibility as parents is to love and nurture our children, no matter what challenges they may face. Children should not have to pass a genetic test in order to be born," Sensenbrenner concluded.

An identical version of this bill was also introduced today in the Senate by Senators Brownback and Kennedy.

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