Birth defects prevention bill awaits President's signature after House passage March 10.
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
FOLIC ACID AWARENESS, RESEARCH PROGRAMS WOULD RECEIVE FUNDING BOOST under a birth defects prevention bill passed by the House in a 405-2 vote March 10. The Birth Defects Prevention Act (S 419), introduced last March by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), is companion legislation to a House measure sponsored by Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Tex.). The House passed the bill under a suspension of rules, thereby prohibiting the introduction of any floor amendments; S 419 cleared the Senate via voice vote on June 12 ("The Tan Sheet" June 23, 1997, In Brief). The bill now awaits the President's signature.