[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 108 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 108

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
                   Institute, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 17, 1998

    Mr. Dorgan (for himself and Mr. Frist) submitted the following 
   concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
                   Institute, and for other purposes.

Whereas in 1948 the Congress, by its enactment of the National Heart Act and 
        creation of the National Heart Institute, recognized the urgent need to 
        establish a national program of research and demonstration projects 
        relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases 
        of the heart and circulation;
Whereas the Congress has consistently and generously supported the purposes of 
        the National Heart Act;
Whereas, since the creation of the National Heart Institute, the Congress 
        changed the name of the Institute to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
        Institute and expanded and clarified the Institute's role in advancing 
        human understanding or awareness of diseases of the heart and blood 
        vessels, diseases of the lungs, diseases of the blood, the use of blood 
        and blood products, the management of blood resources, and sleep 
        disorders through research, research training, demonstration projects, 
        and public education activities;
Whereas June of 1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the National 
        Heart Institute which was established to lead a national effort to 
        prevent, diagnose, and treat heart diseases;
Whereas research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has 
        led to the identification of risk factors for coronary heart disease 
        such as high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, obesity, physical 
        inactivity, and cigarette smoking;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has conducted and 
        supported studies that resulted in lifesaving procedures for heart 
        disease patients, including open-heart surgery, balloon angioplasty, 
        heart transplants, and insertion of pacemakers and other devices to 
        improve heart function;
Whereas patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung diseases are 
        receiving better treatment with an improved quality of life because of 
        research supported by programs of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
        Institute;
Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has provided 
        significant bases for progress in the treatment of inherited blood 
        diseases such as sickle cell anemia and hemophilia, and in gene therapy 
        research which suggests the possibility of cures for such diseases;
Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has provided 
        significant bases for advances in molecular genetics, gene therapy, and 
        other new technologies, which offer opportunity and promise of further 
        advances against such devastating diseases as coronary heart disease, 
        asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, and cystic fibrosis;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's national education 
        programs have significantly raised public awareness about the dangers of 
        elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, the importance of 
        early response to heart attack symptoms, and asthma prevention and 
        treatment;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's efforts to promote 
        research and education have contributed to a dramatic decline over the 
        past 50 years in death rates from coronary heart disease and stroke;
Whereas researchers, professional societies, voluntary and public health 
        organizations, and patient groups have all contributed to the National 
        Heart Act's goals of advancing research and increasing public awareness;
Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 
        continue its contribution to public awareness by disseminating its 
        research findings to health professionals and the public; and
Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 
        continue to aggressively pursue efforts to improve the health of the 
        people of the United States by conducting and supporting research and 
        demonstration projects on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and 
        prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, diseases of the 
        lungs, and diseases of the blood while also conducting or supporting 
        research and demonstration projects on the use of blood and blood 
        products, the management of blood resources, and sleep disorders: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 50th 
        anniversary of the enactment of the National Heart Act and the 
        creation of the institute that became the National Heart, Lung, 
        and Blood Institute;
            (2) recognizes heart, lung, and blood researchers, 
        professional societies, voluntary and public health 
        organizations, and patient groups for their active 
        participation in the activities of, or promoted by, the 
        National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and for their many, 
        varied contributions toward the achievement of the goals of the 
        National Heart Act and subsequent related Acts; and
            (3) reaffirms its support of the National Heart Act and 
        subsequent related Acts and their primary goal of establishing 
        and implementing a national effort to prevent, diagnose, and 
        treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels, lungs, and 
        blood.
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