[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1117-E1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DES EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AMENDMENTS OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 1997

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce today the DES 
Education and Research Amendments of 1997.

[[Page E1118]]

  Between 1938 and 1971, approximately 5 million pregnant American 
women took the drug diethylstilbestrol, or DES, in the belief it would 
prevent miscarriage. Tragically, DES failed to impact miscarriage rates 
and instead caused severe health consequences for many of the children 
exposed in utero.
  DES is now known to damage the reproductive systems of those exposed 
in utero and to increase the risk for cancer, infertility, and a wide 
range of other serious reproductive tract disorders. These include a 
fivefold increased risk of ectopic pregnancy for DES daughters and a 
threefold increased risk for miscarriage and preterm labor. One in one 
thousand DES daughters will develop clear cell cancer of the vagina or 
cervix. If diagnosed early, survival rates for this cancer are around 
80 percent. However, there is still no effective treatment for 
recurrence of this cancer.
  DES sons experience adverse health consequences as well, including an 
increased incidence of undescended testicles and fertility problems. 
Studies also indicate a higher incidence of breast cancer among mothers 
who took DES during pregnancy.
  In the 102d Congress, Senator Tom Harkin and I sponsored the DES 
Education and Research Amendments of 1992. This legislation, signed 
into law by President Bush, established the first Federal DES research 
and education efforts. Since that time, DES research has yielded 
important insights into the impact of synthetic estrogens on the human 
body. The associated education program has helped to identify people 
who did not previously know they were exposed to DES and educate them 
about their special health needs.
  Our understanding of DES is still evolving and incomplete. Two of the 
most pressing research concerns at present are whether estrogen 
replacement therapy is advisable for DES-exposed women and whether DES 
may have a genetic impact on the third generation--the children of 
parents exposed to DES in utero. In addition, many thousands of 
affected Americans and their health professionals do not have adequate 
information about steps they should take to deal with the effects of 
DES.
  The DES Education and Research Amendments of 1997 would extend 
authorization for DES research at the National Institutes of Health. It 
would also instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
establish a national DES education program, based on the pilot projects 
conducted pursuant to the 1992 law.
  The Federal commitment to DES education and research must continue. I 
urge my colleagues to support the DES Education and Research Amendments 
of 1997.

                          ____________________