[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 74 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 74


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2007

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         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--
            (1) the Congress commends the Director of the National 
        Institutes of Health for working with leading scientists and 
        researchers to organize the first-ever National Institutes of 
        Health conference on hydrocephalus; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (A) the Director of the National Institutes of 
                Health should continue the current collaboration with 
                respect to hydrocephalus among the National Eye 
                Institute; the National Human Genome Research 
                Institute; the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging 
                and Bioengineering; the National Institute of Child 
                Health and Human Development; the National Institute of 
                Neurological Disorders and Stroke; the National 
                Institute on Aging; and the Office of Rare Diseases;
                    (B) further research into the epidemiology, 
                pathophysiology, disease burden, and improved treatment 
                of hydrocephalus should be conducted or supported; and
                    (C) public awareness and professional education 
                regarding hydrocephalus should increase through 
                partnerships between the Federal Government and patient 
                advocacy organizations, such as the Hydrocephalus 
                Association.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 27, 2007.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.