This House resolution expresses support for designating May 17, 2026, as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day." It describes necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as a serious intestinal disease that often affects premature or medically fragile infants. The resolution notes that thousands of babies develop NEC each year and that hundreds die from it. It says NEC can cause severe inflammation, intestinal damage, and long-term problems for survivors. The text cites that NEC accounts for about $5,000,000,000 in hospitalization expenses per year, roughly 19 percent of neonatal health care expenditures, and that surgical cases can cost about $200,000 or more each. The resolution highlights that breast milk is one of the most effective ways to help prevent NEC, and when a mother's milk is not available, pasteurized donor human milk is the next-best option. It also says formula does not protect medically fragile infants from NEC, calls for more data on NEC in preterm and term infants, and notes that Black infants are disproportionately affected. The resolution recognizes the importance of parents in infant care and supports raising public awareness.
The resolution is a statement by the House that supports naming a day to raise awareness about NEC and its prevention. It calls attention to prevention approaches (like breast milk and donor milk), data needs, and disparities in outcomes. No specific changes to medical practice, benefits, or legal requirements are detailed in the text.
The resolution itself does not include funding provisions. The bill text includes these cost figures: about $5,000,000,000 in hospitalization expenses per year, about 19 percent of neonatal health care expenditures, and roughly $200,000 or more for each case of surgical NEC. No publicly available information on new federal spending or authorized funding is included in the resolution.
Supporters in the text say raising awareness can help prevent NEC, improve outcomes, and support families. The resolution emphasizes the protective value of a mother's milk and pasteurized donor human milk for infants at risk. It also stresses the need for more data on NEC, the importance of partnering with parents in care, and addressing racial disparities that lead to worse outcomes for Black infants.
No publicly available information on opposition or arguments against the resolution is included in the bill text or metadata.