[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 633 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 633

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a 
  critical need to increase awareness and education about hepatitis C.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2004

 Mr. Udall of New Mexico submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a 
  critical need to increase awareness and education about hepatitis C.

Whereas an estimated 2.7 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, the 
        most common blood-borne virus;
Whereas it is estimated that less than 5 percent of individuals with the virus 
        are receiving treatment;
Whereas hepatitis C is linked to 10,000 deaths annually in the United States;
Whereas the infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the 
        United States, annually accounting for 40 to 50 percent of all patients 
        undergoing transplantation;
Whereas hepatitis C is linked to liver cancer, which is a frequently fatal 
        complication of long-standing infection, and is a cancer whose incidence 
        is rising in the United States;
Whereas, as those infected with HIV virus live longer with newly available anti-
        retrovirals, hepatitis C is emerging as a leading cause of morbidity and 
        mortality in those with this infection;
Whereas hepatitis C is particularly prevalent in underserved communities, those 
        who are homeless, those who are incarcerated, and those of low 
        socioeconomic status;
Whereas approximately 40 per cent of those incarcerated in State prisons are 
        infected with hepatitis C;
Whereas the infection is curable in only about half of those who are treated, 
        and because of side effects of current therapies, treatment cannot be 
        administered to many of those who are infected;
Whereas the response to current treatments is lower in certain groups than in 
        others, particularly in African Americans, those who have undergone 
        liver transplantation for hepatitis C, and those who are infected with 
        the HIV virus;
Whereas it is estimated that 5.4 percent of veterans who currently access 
        medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (``VA'') have 
        been infected with hepatitis C, representing over 210,000 veterans;
Whereas the majority of veterans infected are Vietnam era veterans, and the 
        prevalence of infection is highest in this group;
Whereas the VA is the largest provider of hepatitis care in the United States;
Whereas, while hepatitis C virus therapies are improving, many of those who are 
        infected do not currently have access to treatment;
Whereas the yearly costs of hepatitis C are estimated at anywhere between $600 
        million per year to an alarming $15 billion dollars, and that figure 
        could skyrocket to $26 billion by 2021; and
Whereas the one-year cost of treating one person with hepatitis C is currently 
        about $25,000: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
there is a critical need to increase awareness and education about 
hepatitis C.
                                 <all>