The March of Dimes presented Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) with the foundation’s national 2007 Public Affairs Leadership Award for her sponsorship of legislation to improve the health of mothers, infants, and children. The foundation cited the congresswoman’s Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007 (HR 1634), which would establish national newborn screening guidelines intended to make comprehensive newborn screening widely available throughout the country. The bill provides federal funding to educate parents and health care professionals about the importance of newborn screening. The bill also improves access to follow-up care for infants detected with an illness through newborn screening tests. In addition, the bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the quality of laboratories involved in newborn screening and establishes a system for collecting and analyzing data that will help researchers develop better detection, prevention and treatment strategies. The foundation also recognized the congresswoman for her work on the "Folic Acid Education Act of 2000." The law, which was sponsored by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to undertake a public education campaign on the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects. In addition, the March of Dimes noted the congresswoman’s continued leadership in securing funding for folic acid education, newborn screening and prematurity research. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency with a mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. The March of Dimes funds research, community service, education, and advocacy programs and, in 2003, launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature births.  

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