[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 465 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 465

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional 
research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2006

Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. McHugh, Mr. McDermott, Mr. 
 Tom Davis of Virginia, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Sherwood, Mr. 
Schiff, Ms. Pelosi, and Mr. George Miller of California) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional 
research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition, characterized by the 
        abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain;
Whereas there is no known cure for hydrocephalus;
Whereas hydrocephalus affects an estimated one million Americans;
Whereas 1 or 2 in every 1000 babies are born with hydrocephalus;
Whereas over 375,000 older Americans have hydrocephalus, which often goes 
        undetected or is misdiagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or 
        Parkinson's disease;
Whereas with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people with hydrocephalus are 
        able to live full and productive lives;
Whereas the standard treatment for hydrocephalus was developed in 1952, and 
        carries multiple risks including shunt failure, infection, and 
        overdrainage;
Whereas there are fewer than 10 centers in the United States specializing in the 
        treatment of adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus;
Whereas each year, the people of the United States spend in excess of $1 billion 
        to treat hydrocephalus;
Whereas a September 2005 conference sponsored by 7 institutes of the National 
        Institutes of Health--``Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear 
        Directions''--resulted in efforts to initiate new, collaborative 
        research and treatment efforts; and
Whereas the Hydrocephalus Association is one of the Nation's oldest and largest 
        patient and research advocacy and support networks for individuals 
        suffering from hydrocephalus: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Director of the National Institutes of Health 
        should be commended for working with leading scientists and 
        researchers to organize the first-ever National Institutes of 
        Health conference on hydrocephalus;
            (2) the Director of the National Institutes of Health 
        should continue the current collaboration with respect to 
        hydrocephalus among the National Institute of Neurological 
        Disorders and Stroke; the Office of Rare Diseases; the National 
        Institute on Aging; the National Institute of Child Health and 
        Human Development; the National Eye Institute; the National 
        Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; and the 
        National Human Genome Research Institute;
            (3) funding should be increased for research into the 
        epidemiology, pathophysiology, disease burden, and improved 
        treatment of hydrocephalus; and
            (4) public awareness and professional education regarding 
        hydrocephalus should increase through partnerships between the 
        Federal Government and patient advocacy organizations, such as 
        the Hydrocephalus Association.
                                 <all>