[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 54 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE LYME DISEASE INITIATIVE OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing 
comprehensive legislation--The Lyme Disease Initiative of 1998--to jump 
start a world-class, coordinated campaign to fight Lyme Disease. This 
$100 million federal initiative will, for the first time, establish a 
prominent, coordinated federal role in Lyme Disease research, 
treatment, and education. Various agencies within the federal 
government have done some good work in the Lyme issue, but these short 
term efforts have been hampered by a lack of interagency coordination, 
inconsistent funding and limited agency staff attention. The Lyme 
Disease Initiative changes all that.
  Five year plan of action.--First, my bill calls for a 5 year plan to 
be established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and outside experts to 
advance the treatment of and a cure for Lyme Disease. The Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, 
various agencies within the Defense Department have all worked on Lyme 
disease. Too often, however, the left hand does not know what the right 
hand has discovered and true advancement is hampered.
  For example, in 1994 I pushed through a provision directing the DOD 
to conduct $850,000 in Lyme Disease research. Tick borne diseases 
remains a continuing concern for DOD, particularly with many of our 
soldiers at risk of tick bites. Regrettably, much of DOD's valuable 
research under this study never made its way to our other health 
experts at the Department of Health and Human Services. My new 
legislation will correct this problem.
  Four public health goals.--Sadly much of our Lyme research has been 
hit and miss with no clear cut goals and no specific purpose for 
federal expertise and resources. My bill sets out four critical public 
health goals that will advance the Lyme research efforts:
  Goal #1: Develop an objective detection test for Lyme that can 
determine whether an individual bitten by a tick has Lyme Disease. 
Designates a reliable detection test as the single most important 
public health goal.
  Goal #2: A review of CDC's reporting and surveillance systems. Among 
the changes to be considered are (1) a more uniform system of reporting 
and (2) collecting and analyzing Lyme case data that does not currently 
meet CDC's strict surveillance criteria.
  Goal #3: More accurate and timely Lyme diagnosis. A study shall be 
initiated to examine patterns of diagnosis and treatment of patients.
  Goal #4: Physician Education. A full-scale effort shall be taken to 
educate treating physicians on how to properly diagnose and treat Lyme 
Disease.
  Other major provisions in the bill include:
  Section 4. Establishing a Lyme Disease Taskforce to provide advice 
and expertise to Congress and federal agencies on all areas of Lyme 
Disease policy.
  Section 5. Requiring Annual Reports be submitted to Congress on the 
progress of NIH, CDC, and DOD with respect to the goals and programs 
funded and specified in this bill.
  Section 7. $100 Million Over Five Years. An authorization of $100 
million over five years is needed to ensure sufficient resources for 
consistent, critical scientific, medical research. The bill authorizes: 
$45 million in additional authorization for the National Institutes of 
Health, $40 million in additional authorization for the Centers for 
Disease Control, and $15 million in additional authorization for the 
Department of Defense.
  Section 8. Lyme Disease Vaccines. The bill urges the Food and Drug 
Administration to conduct a rapid and thorough review of new Lyme 
Disease vaccine applications so that people who are already suffering 
are given new hope.
  I am joined today by Rep. Jim Maloney (CT), Rep. Mike Pappas, Rep. 
Jim Saxton, and Rep. Sam Gejdenson in urging the relevant Committees to 
give this bipartisan legislation its due consideration. On the Senate 
side, I am pleased that Sen. Chris Dodd will be introducing the 
companion legislation to my bill.
  For too long, Lyme patients have suffered and languished under a 
medical system that cannot meet their needs because of unreliable 
diagnostic tests and incomplete physician understanding of this 
emerging infectious disease. My legislation will turn the tide and 
enable people to fully enjoy the outdoors once again without the fear 
of contracting a very serious disease.

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