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Winner 2009 - Legislative
Award
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| To honor a legislator who, through his/her life and work, has made a significant contribution toward enhancement of maternal and child health. |
Senator Lisa Murkowski
The National Perinatal Association is recognizing
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for her focus on
health care issues related to pregnant women and
children. Senator Murkowski has worked to increase
awareness of the dangers of prenatal exposure to
alcohol and this year, sponsored the resolution
designating September 9, 2009, as "National Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day", which was
passed unanimously by the Senate.
Earlier this year, she spoke at a Capitol Hill Health
Briefing on pregnant women and fish consumption
sponsored by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy
Babies Coalition. She cited the growing body of
research that shows that pregnant women should be
eating more fish to promote optimal infant brain
development.
Other areas of health supported by Senator Murkowski
include the State Children's Insurance Program,
federal support of nursing programs, the National
Health Service Corps, Community Health Centers and
critical access hospitals. She worked to help assure
passage of the Appropriations Act of 2009 which
provides a nearly 10 percent boost for nursing
education funding and a 46 percent increase in funding
for the (Title VIII) faculty loan repayment program to
help reduce the nursing faculty shortage. She offered
an amendment which was included in the FY 2010 Budget
Resolution that increased funding by $100 million for
the National Health Service Corps program which
supplies primary care medical and mental health
providers to rural and medically underserved
communities throughout America through scholarship and
loan repayment assistance.
Ms. Murkowski is also committed to health care reform
to provide more people with access to care and to make
sure that it is affordable. Senator Murkowski is
serving her first 6 term in the U.S. Senate (2004 -
2011).