[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 189 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 189

   Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding inflammatory bowel 
                                disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2001

  Mrs. Kelly submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding inflammatory bowel 
                                disease.

Whereas Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as 
        inflammatory bowel disease) are chronic disorders of the intestinal 
        tract that cause intense pain and suffering and represent the leading 
        cause of morbidity from digestive illness;
Whereas the cause of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are unknown and 
        there is no cure;
Whereas an estimated 1 million people in the United States suffer inflammatory 
        bowel disease;
Whereas inflammatory bowel disease affects men and women equally, tends to run 
        in families, and predominately afflicts persons under the age of 30 
        although it can strike at any age;
Whereas inflammatory bowel disease patients often require intensive steroid 
        treatments or invasive surgery to control their symptoms;
Whereas in 1990, the total annual medical costs for Crohn's disease patients was 
        estimated at $1-$1.2 billion;
Whereas in 1990, the total annual medical cost for ulcerative colitis patients 
        was estimated at $400-$600 million;
Whereas inflammatory bowel disease patients are at high risk for developing 
        colorectal cancer;
Whereas research recently identified the first gene for Crohn's disease; and
Whereas the Congress as an institution, and Members of Congress as individuals, 
        are in unique positions to help raise public awareness about the need 
        for increased funding for research, epidemiology, and treatment of 
        inflammatory bowel disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) all Americans should take an active role in the fight 
        against inflammatory bowel disease by all means available to 
        them, including the investigation of family histories;
            (2) the role played by national organizations and health 
        care providers in promoting awareness of inflammatory bowel 
        disease and supporting research should be applauded;
            (3) the Federal Government has a responsibility to--
                    (A) endeavor to raise awareness about inflammatory 
                bowel disease, and the high risk that patients have for 
                developing colorectal cancer;
                    (B) continue to consider ways to improve the 
                quality of health care services for inflammatory bowel 
                disease patients, including recognition of the need for 
                unimpeded access to a gastroenterologist, and coverage 
                of parenteral and enteral nutrition; and
                    (C) assess the challenges that inflammatory bowel 
                disease patients frequently encounter when applying for 
                Social Security disability benefits, and take 
                appropriate action to address these barriers;
            (4) the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and 
        Digestive and Kidney Diseases, in collaboration with other 
        appropriate institutes of the National Institutes of Health, 
        should continue to take a leadership role in the fight against 
        inflammatory bowel disease through the expansion of genetic, 
        environmental, and clinical research; and
            (5) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should 
        give priority consideration to the establishment of a national 
        inflammatory bowel disease epidemiology program for the purpose 
        of determining the true prevalence and demographic 
        characteristics of the disease.
                                 <all>