[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1226 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1226

    Commending EyeCare America for its work over the last 25 years.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2010

 Mr. Gene Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Whitfield, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
       Sessions, Mr. Scott of Georgia, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Neal of 
 Massachusetts, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Commending EyeCare America for its work over the last 25 years.

Whereas American public opinion polls have consistently identified fear of loss 
        of vision as second only to fear of cancer;
Whereas in those public opinion polls Americans have said that loss of vision 
        would have the greatest impact on their lives;
Whereas the National Eye Institute estimates that more than 11 million Americans 
        have common vision problems;
Whereas approximately 35 million Americans experience an age-related eye 
        disease, such as age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of 
        vision loss in older Americans), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or 
        cataracts;
Whereas the number of Americans to experience an age-related eye disease is 
        expected to increase to 50 million by 2020;
Whereas the Hispanic and African-American populations experience a 
        disproportionate incidence of glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic 
        retinopathy, the latter being the leading cause of blindness in 
        individuals of all races in the 25 to 74 year-old age group;
Whereas vision impairment and eye disease is a major public health issue;
Whereas 2010 begins the decade in which more than half of the 78 million baby 
        boomers will turn 65 and be at greatest risk for aging eye disease;
Whereas much can be done to preserve sight with early detection and treatment;
Whereas EyeCare America, the public service program of the Foundation of the 
        American Academy of Ophthalmology, works to ensure that eye health is 
        not neglected, by matching eligible patients with one of more than 7,000 
        volunteer ophthalmologists across the county committed to preventing 
        unnecessary blindness in their communities;
Whereas these volunteer ophthalmologists provide eye examinations and care for 
        up to one year at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient, and seniors who 
        are without insurance receive this care at no charge;
Whereas individuals throughout the United States may contact EyeCare America to 
        see if they are be eligible to be referred to a volunteer 
        ophthalmologist; and
Whereas EyeCare America has helped over 1 million people since its inception in 
        1985 and is the largest public service program of its kind in American 
        medicine today: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends EyeCare 
America for its work over the last 25 years.
                                 <all>