[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8512-S8513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 108--RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
Mr. DORGAN (for himself and Mr. Frist) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
S. Con. Res. 108
Whereas in 1948 the Congress, by its enactment of the
National Heart Act and creation of the National Heart
Institute, recognized the urgent need to establish a national
program of research and demonstration projects relating to
the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases
of the heart and circulation;
Whereas the Congress has consistently and generously
supported the purposes of the National Heart Act;
Whereas, since the creation of the National Heart
Institute, the Congress changed the name of the Institute to
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and expanded
and clarified the Institute's role in advancing human
understanding or awareness of diseases of the heart and blood
vessels, diseases of the lungs, diseases of the blood, the
use of blood and blood products, the management of blood
resources, and sleep disorders through research, research
training, demonstration projects, and public education
activities;
Whereas June of 1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the
creation of the National Heart Institute which was
established to lead a national effort to prevent, diagnose,
and treat heart diseases;
Whereas research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute has
[[Page S8513]]
led to the identification of risk factors for coronary heart
disease such as high cholesterol level, high blood pressure,
obesity, physical inactivity, and cigarette smoking;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has
conducted and supported studies that resulted in lifesaving
procedures for heart disease patients, including open-heart
surgery, balloon angioplasty, heart transplants, and
insertion of pacemakers and other devices to improve heart
function;
Whereas patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other
lung diseases are receiving better treatment with an improved
quality of life because of research supported by programs of
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute;
Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute has provided significant bases for progress in the
treatment of inherited blood diseases such as sickle cell
anemia and hemophilia, and in gene therapy research which
suggests the possibility of cures for such diseases;
Whereas the work of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute has provided significant bases for advances in
molecular genetics, gene therapy, and other new technologies,
which offer opportunity and promise of further advances
against such devastating diseases as coronary heart disease,
asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, and cystic
fibrosis;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's
national education programs have significantly raised public
awareness about the dangers of elevated cholesterol levels
and high blood pressure, the importance of early response to
heart attack symptoms, and asthma prevention and treatment;
Whereas the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's
efforts to promote research and education have contributed to
a dramatic decline over the past 50 years in death rates from
coronary heart disease and stroke;
Whereas researchers, professional societies, voluntary and
public health organizations, and patient groups have all
contributed to the National Heart Act's goals of advancing
research and increasing public awareness;
Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute continue its contribution to public
awareness by disseminating its research findings to health
professionals and the public; and
Whereas the Congress intends that the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute continue to aggressively pursue efforts
to improve the health of the people of the United States by
conducting and supporting research and demonstration projects
on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
diseases of the heart and blood vessels, diseases of the
lungs, and diseases of the blood while also conducting or
supporting research and demonstration projects on the use of
blood and blood products, the management of blood resources,
and sleep disorders: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) recognizes the historic significance of the 50th
anniversary of the enactment of the National Heart Act and
the creation of the institute that became the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute;
(2) recognizes heart, lung, and blood researchers,
professional societies, voluntary and public health
organizations, and patient groups for their active
participation in the activities of, or promoted by, the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and for their
many, varied contributions toward the achievement of the
goals of the National Heart Act and subsequent related Acts;
and
(3) reaffirms its support of the National Heart Act and
subsequent related Acts and their primary goal of
establishing and implementing a national effort to prevent,
diagnose, and treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels,
lungs, and blood.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be submitting today a
Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizing and honoring the 50th
anniversary of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. I am
joined in this effort by our esteemed colleague from Tennessee, Dr.
Frist, who by profession is a heart and lung transplant surgeon and
medical researcher. An identical resolution has already been introduced
in the House of Representatives by Representative Bill Young.
Heart disease is our country's No. 1 killer and a leading cause of
disability. Chronic lung disease is the fourth leading cause of death.
Virtually all of us have a friend or a loved one who has been affected
by heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, other cardiovascular
diseases, asthma, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, or hemophilia.
The NHLBI is the Federal Government's leading supporter of heart
research, as well as research into diseases of the blood vessels,
lungs, and blood. There have been wonderful discoveries made through
research and wonderful treatments that are provided in our hospitals in
these areas. For instance, the first open heart surgery did not occur
until 1954. Today, surgeons routinely perform double, triple, and even
quadruple heart bypass procedures.
Yet there is so much we still do not know. It seems to me more and
more research can unlock these mysteries and give us the opportunity to
save more and more lives in this country.
I might also add that there is another organization devoted to the
reduction of death and disability from heart attack, stroke, and other
cardiovascular diseases that is also celebrating its 50th birthday--the
American Heart Association. The American Heart Association has worked
closely over the years with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute in the fight against cardiovascular diseases.
As many of my colleagues know, I have become increasingly concerned
about what has been happening to the amount of money spent on heart and
stroke research by the federal government. Even with the significant
increases that Congress has been giving to the National Institutes of
Health over the past decade, funding for heart research has simply not
kept pace even though it kills more Americans than any other disease.
In fact, funding for heart research at the NHLBI appears to be losing
more and more ground. It constant dollars from FY 1987 to FY 1997,
funding for the NHLBI heart program has decreased by 7.6 percent in
constant dollars, while funding for the Heart Program has increased by
27.5 percent.
We can do better, and we must do better. Our Nation must do a better
job than this in the battle against America's No. 1 killer.
During the commemoration of this 50th anniversary of the 1948 Heart
Act, which created the National Heart Institute, I hope we can make
more progress against cardiovascular and other insidious diseases by
providing a significant increase in funding for the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute and particularly for research against heart
disease and stroke.
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