[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 95 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H5727-H5728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RETINAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address an issue of great 
importance to so many Americans. These are Americans that are suffering 
with retinal degenerative diseases. They number over 6 million and come 
from all ages and all ethnic groups. An additional 9 million Americans 
have presymptomatic signs that may lead to loss of sight. It is a 
problem that affects an epidemic number of people across this country, 
and one that certainly merits our attention, and, indeed, our support.
  Several weeks ago I held a briefing where several of my colleagues 
and I had an opportunity to hear from a panel of experts and research 
scientists about all of the wonderful progress that organizations like 
the Foundation Fighting Blindness have made in the fight to find a 
treatment and to cure this debilitating disease.
  We also had a chance to hear from several young people who have been 
affected. One of these young people we

[[Page H5728]]

heard from was Isaac Lidsky, a young man from my Congressional 
District. For Carlos and Betty Lidsky, Isaac's parents, the fight for a 
cure is one they struggle with on a day-to-day basis. Of their four 
wonderful children, Izaac, Ronit, Daria, and Ilana, three are stricken 
with this devastating disease.
  At our briefing, their youngest, Isaac, talked to us about how the 
disease has affected his life, and although he has an unwavering 
optimism that one day soon a cure will be found, he also expressed 
frustration from knowing that the possibility for a cure is out there 
waiting, but because of lack of sufficient funding for research, he is 
slowly losing his sight.
  Promoting important research efforts and wonderful, nonprofit 
organizations like Foundation Fighting Blindness, which are on the 
cutting edge of new procedures, and which have dedicated scientists 
working tirelessly to eradicate these diseases, is crucial at this 
juncture.
  The National Eye Institute, which is a division of the National 
Institutes of Health, is a critical player in the fight to save the 
loss of sight caused by retinal degenerative diseases. Their role, 
however, has been impaired to a certain extent because of the lack of 
sufficient funding for continued research. Over the last 13 years, 
funding at NEI has grown at less than one-fourth of the rate of the 
National Institutes of Health.
  There has been a considerable effort to double the funding provided 
to NIH, but this effort needs our help. Research has made excellent 
progress. Groups like the National Eye Institute and the Foundation 
Fighting Blindness have conducted terrific research in this field. 
Their scientists have made incredible progress in understanding the 
biological processes of these diseases. They have been able to identify 
and isolate many of the genes that cause retinal degenerative disease.
  There have been significant discoveries also in the area of molecular 
engineering and gene therapy. Tremendous advances have been made in the 
lab with vectors, which are modified viruses that transport normal 
replacement genes into cells to help them function. This past year also 
there was significant improvement in the new generation of vectors 
which have the potential of being safer and more effective.
  Science is now, Mr. Speaker, at a critical turning point. Researchers 
are ready to take the knowledge that they have gained from basic 
research and transfer it to clinical research that will create the 
foundation for future treatment and therapies.
  Let us make a difference in the lives of these 6 million Americans 
that are already affected, and those many millions who are yet 
undiagnosed. Let us support the wonderful research efforts through 
increased funding for these agencies, these agencies that are making 
remarkable steps, and that continue to give us hope and renew our 
energies toward finding a cure; for a cure, Mr. Speaker, will come.
  Let us work together to plan for a future where funding will not be 
the obstacle to curing the vision loss of people like Isaac and his 
sisters. Now is the time to take advantage of these scientific 
advances, and with adequate funding, Mr. Speaker, there is, indeed, a 
cure in sight.

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