washington chairman u.s. house committee oversee child abuse issue open inquiry friday whether federal government fail enforce law mean protect thousands baby bear dependent drug year inquiry launch representative john kline minnesota come response reuters investigation last month identify 110 examples children expose opioids womb late die preventable deaths leave hospital nine state comply 2003 law call hospitals alert social workers whenever baby bear dependent drug news agency find since law enact number newborns diagnose neonatal abstinence syndrome skyrocket 4,991 case 2003 27,315 2013 federal data show reuters analysis find thousands drug-dependant newborns send home year without referral social service agencies contrary intent federal law referrals intend help social workers develop plan safe care newborns mother although state fail comply provision reuters find none lose federal fund letter friday kline tell health human service secretary sylvia burwell deeply concern agency may enforce law reuters investigation release december cast serious doubt whether basic requirements federal law follow write kline republican chair house education workforce committee letter co-sign todd rokita indiana republican chair subcommittee early childhood education reuters investigation reveal shock deadly consequences vital federal state child welfare policies properly implement enforce lawmakers write even trouble accord reuters report state fail put policies place altogether yet single state deny fund kline rokita ask health human service officials explain review process determine whether state create safe-care plan baby bear drug-dependent make clear consequences state comply agency officials immediately respond lawmakers letter primary backer key provision 2003 law former representative jam greenwood say delight kline rokita take step light fire department health human service precious little live stake greenwood say last month top u.s. senators also call action sen. charles schumer democrat new york ask emergency surge fund help protect newborns sen. robert casey democrat pennsylvania seek oversight hear senior republican senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say series bring forefront problem urge obama administration address fast reuters investigation helpless hook find reut.rs/1nsc7uc kline rokita letter health human service secretary find 1.usa.gov/235146g house open inquiry deaths drug-dependent newborns