Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, complications of preterm birth is now the number one killer of children under 5 years of age worldwide; Whereas 1,100,000 children die every year due to complications of preterm birth; Whereas preterm birth is a global problem that exacts a harsh toll on families from all parts of society in every country; Whereas there are stark inequalities in the survival rates of preterm babies born around the world; Whereas complications from preterm birth have lifelong consequences for the health, growth, and development of infants; Whereas up to 75 percent of deaths resulting from preterm birth worldwide can be prevented through proven low-cost interventions; Whereas countries can improve maternal health and the survival rate of babies born prematurely by making strategic investments in health care systems to ensure access to high-quality adolescent and pre-pregnancy care, prenatal care, childbirth services, emergency obstetric care, postnatal care, and comprehensive care for affected newborns; Whereas according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preterm-related causes are the leading contributors to infant death in the United States, accounting for more than 1/3 of infant deaths; Whereas while the preterm birth rate in the United States decreased from a peak of 12.8 percent in 2006, the preterm birth rate of 9.8 percent in 2016 is still too high; Whereas there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates among many communities in the United States; Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies estimated in 2006 that the annual societal economic cost associated with preterm birth in the United States was $26,200,000,000; Whereas many preterm births can be prevented through evidence-based public health programs focused on reducing risk factors such as tobacco use, inadequate birth spacing, and early elective deliveries