Bond receives the March of Dimes Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Affairs

On Thursday, during an awards ceremony that brought together children's health advocates, including Members of Congress, business leaders, union leaders, and volunteers, the March of Dimespresented U.S. Senator Kit Bond with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Affairs,

"I am deeply touched to receive this award from the March of Dimes," said Bond. "The partnership we had over the years to fight for healthy babies and mothers is one of the most important and cherished of my career. During my remaining time in the Senate, I will continue to fight with you for healthy babies."

"Throughout his career, Senator Bond has been a champion for legislation, facilities, and programs that have improved the health of America's women and children," said Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "He has often led the fight for those whose voices are not always heard on Capitol Hill --and we will miss him when he retires next year." Bond received the March of Dimes Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Affairs for his significant contributions to improve maternal and children's health, a press release said.

Over the years, Bond has worked with the March of Dimes organization to pass numerous bills to improve the health of women and children.

In the early 1990s there was virtually no comprehensive national strategy to fight birth defects. In response to this need, Bond teamed up with the March of Dimes in 1998 to pass the Birth Defects Prevention Act, which created the first national strategy for birth defects prevention, surveillance and research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following the success of the partnership, Bond reunited with the March of Dimes to help pass the Children's Health Act of 2000, which included language to encourage women of childbearing age to take folic acid everyday, which helps significantly reduce neural tube defects in babies.

More recently, Bond has worked with the March of Dimes to enact the PREEMIE bill in 2007, which prevents pre-term birth and the lifelong health problems it often causes.

During his acceptance speech, Bond praised the organization responsible for the critical advances in children's health, "March of Dimes has one mission: healthy babies. And together with support from the American people, thousands of volunteers, and yes, some Members of Congress, you have saved millions of babies' lives. I am proud to have played a small role in that legacy."

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose volunteers and staff work to improve the health of infants and children by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy. For more on the organization or children's health issues, please visit www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org.