Your Voice Matters – Tell Congress to Support the ‘NICU Baby’s Bill of Rights’!

Every year, more than 370,000 babies are born prematurely in the U.S., and thousands of full-term infants face life-threatening medical challenges requiring intensive care. For their families, the NICU experience can be overwhelming – filled with emotional distress, disrupted bonding, and a lack of consistent support. Too often, parents are left out of critical decisions about their baby’s care.

The NICU Baby’s Bill of Rights (H. Res. 236) is a bipartisan resolution, introduced by Representatives Erin Houchin (R IN-09) and Morgan McGarvey (D KY-3), that acknowledges these challenges and urges adoption of family-centered, developmentally appropriate care. Originally drafted by the NICU Parent Network in 2014 and updated in 2024 to reflect the latest standards, this resolution promotes informed consent, parental integration in care, and essential mental health support for caregivers.

This is a crucial moment to make your voice heard. Tell your Representative to stand with NICU families and support this vital resolution. Every baby deserves the best chance at a full, healthy life. YOUR voice can make that a reality.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I’m writing today to urge you to support H. Res. 236, a resolution expressing support for the goals of a NICU Baby’s Bill of Rights.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of babies in the U.S. require NICU care. This includes not only pre-term babies, but also those born full-term with medical challenges. The NICU journey is often overwhelming and traumatic for families, with long-term impacts on both infants’ developmental outcomes and parents’ mental health.
As someone who deeply cares about the health and well-being of our most vulnerable infants, I believe that families navigating the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) deserve to be fully informed, supported, and empowered in every step of their baby’s care.
H. Res. 236 affirms that all NICU families should have access to:
· Family-centered care that recognizes parents as partners
· Clear, informed consent about treatment plans and nutrition
· Mental health support during and after the NICU stay
· Comprehensive discharge planning
· Policies that prioritize caregiver presence and engagement
I strongly urge you to support this important resolution. Let’s work together to elevate the standards of NICU care and ensure every baby and family receives the support and dignity they deserve.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration.

Sincerely,
______

Prefix

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Address

Zip