For the First Time in U.S. History, Congress Addresses the Needs of the Congenital Heart Defect Population by Introducing the 'Congenital Heart Fu...( There Are Approximately 650000 Childr...),Health

There Are Approximately 650,000 Children and 1,300,000 Adults Living in the U.S. with Congenital Heart Defects, a Chronic and Deadly Disease

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Zack Space (D-OH) today introduced new legislation that, for the first time in history, will address the needs of those affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs) - America's most common birth defect that affects approximately one out of 120 babies each year.

"A child is born with a congenital heart defect every fifteen minutes," says Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). "Despite the prevalence of congenital heart defects, research, data collection, education and awareness are limited. This legislation will expand research and broaden its scope to help those currently living with congenital heart defects and perhaps, one day, find a cure."

The Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) - the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding CHD research - is one of five organizations that participated in National Congenital Heart Lobby Day on February 10. The day united organizations that support the National Congenital Heart Coalition (NCHC) in an effort to persuade senators and representatives to fund important initiatives surrounding congenital heart defects (CHDs). The CHF joined the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), Congenital Heart Information Network (CHIN), It's My Heart (IMH) and Mended Little Hearts (MLH) in the nation's capitol to lobby for the 'Congenital Heart Futures Act,' legislation calling for federal funding of congenital heart disease research, a national patient registry and education. The effort was also supported by the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

"For too long, we have allowed congenital heart defects to limit, alter, and end the lives of the Americans they afflict," says Representative Zack Space (D-OH). "Today, we take a si
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