[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4922-S4923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Arthritis Foundation on its 50th anniversary. Since its inception in 
1948, the Arthritis Foundation is stronger than ever and is forging 
ahead with an increased commitment to providing help and hope for those 
who suffer from the more than one hundred forms of arthritis and 
related conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, 
lupus, fibromyalgia and juvenile arthritis.
  Arthritis, in its various forms, is a major national health problem, 
affecting more than 40 million people in the United States. The Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention predict that by the year 2020, 
arthritis prevalence will increase to 59.4 million Americans--one out 
of every five people, including 285,000 children.
  If that is not enough, the economic impact of arthritis is 
significant. I have been informed that arthritis results in 39 million 
physician visits a year and more than half a million hospitalizations 
annually. Medical costs and lost productivity due to arthritis are 
estimated at almost $65 billion per year--approximately 1.1 percent of 
the gross national product.
  Through it all, the Arthritis Foundation has increased public 
awareness and has help provide guidance for combating arthritis. The 
Arthritis Foundation, an Atlanta based nonprofit organization, supports 
research to find the cure for the prevention of arthritis and seeks to 
improve the quality of life for those affected by this disease. 
Further, the Arthritis Foundation encourages people with arthritis to 
seek early diagnosis and treatment, and provides programs to facilitate 
self-management.
  The Arthritis Foundation's sponsorship of research for 50 years has 
resulted in major treatment advances for most types of arthritis and 
related conditions. The Foundation currently provides $16 million 
annually in grants to more than 300 researchers to help find cures, 
promote prevention and provide better treatments. Since its inception, 
the Foundation has spent more than $200 million on research while 
supporting more than 1,700 scientists and physicians.
  The organization has informed me that they are moving toward a new 
era of public health activity that includes collaboration with the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop the National 
Arthritis Action Plan. They are seeking support for the inclusion of 
arthritis in Healthy People 2010, the nation's strategic planning guide 
for health promotion and disease prevention.
  The National Arthritis Action Plan will focus on such elements as 
defining the nature, extent and distribution of the arthritis burden; 
identifying modifiable risk factors; developing creative and effective 
public health programs and policies to reduce this burden; and 
implementing and coordinating these programs and policies through 
partnership with government, voluntary, professional, private and 
academic institutions and organizations.
  The Arthritis Foundation also provides a large number of nationwide 
community-based services to make life easier and less painful. These 
services include self-help courses, water and land-based exercise 
classes, support groups, instructional videotapes, educational 
brochures and booklets, and continuing education courses and 
publications for health professionals.

[[Page S4923]]

  In the past 50 years, the Arthritis Foundation has funded research, 
increased public awareness and provided needed education and services. 
These major contributions have placed the goal of curing and managing 
the impact of some forms of arthritis within a realistic reach. I 
congratulate the Foundation on this golden achievement and wish it 
continued success in the future.

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