[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E469-E470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 1998

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce concurrent 
resolution No. ______ to encourage the use of federally-supported 
research findings surrounding the impact of untreated sleep disorders 
and sleep deprivation on the nation's health, safety and economy.
  Studies show that Americans are chronically sleep deprived. According 
to a report by the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, 
approximately 40 million Americans suffer from some 80 identified sleep 
disorders and millions more intermittent sleep problems linked to 
depression, stress, pain, and other ailments. According to the National 
Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of adult Americans get far less sleep than 
the eight hours they need to maintain proper alertness during the day 
due partially to demanding lifestyles.
  The pervasive sleep deprivation is taking a toll on the nation's 
health and productivity as sleepiness affects vigilance, mood, 
alertness, motor skills, and the memory of people in both the home and 
the workplace. Fatigue all too often has deadly consequences, causing 
at least $100,000 police-reported crashes on our nation's highways 
every year and contributing to other transportation and industrial 
disasters. Although, fatigue and sleep deprivation is estimated to cost 
Americans $100 billion each

[[Page E470]]

year. The National Sleep Foundation's recent poll found that 57% of 
Americans have driven when drowsy during the past year. 23% of adults 
have actually fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. Obviously, 
sleep deprivation is a major concern in our homes, our work places and 
on our highways.
  To address these serious concerns, the National Sleep Foundation, a 
variety of organizations, federal agencies and companies have initiated 
a program called National Sleep Awareness Week during March 30-April 5 
to raise awareness of the importance of good sleep and the consequences 
of insufficient sleep in the home, workplace and on the highway. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in supporting their efforts and to work toward 
ensuring that proper attention is given to chronic sleep deprivation 
and fatigue by policy makers, medical care practitioners, researchers, 
and educators.

                          ____________________