[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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