[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        THE SILICONE BREAST IMPLANT RESEARCH AND INFORMATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Commerce 
Subcommittee on Health, I am committed to ensuring patients have 
complete and comprehensive access to information before they make a 
decision about a medical procedure.
  To this end, I am proud to re-introduce the Silicone Breast Implant 
Research and Information Act because I believe it is critical to the 
advancement of women's health and is the first step towards answering 
the many questions about the safety and efficacy of silicone breast 
implants.
  By re-introducing this bill today, I along with the 41 original 
cosponsors, hope to draw attention to an issue that has been either 
neglected or out right ignored for too long.
  It is estimated that as many as 2 million women have received 
silicone breast implants over the last 30 years. Unfortunately, the 
information provided to these women before they elected to have 
silicone breast implants has been both incomplete and even inaccurate.
  Moreover, results from past studies have only raised more questions 
about possible negative effects that ruptured or leaking silicone 
breast implants may have on breast milk, connective tissue, autoimmune 
diseases and the accuracy of breast cancer screening tests.
  Our legislation ultimately seeks to change this by focusing on three 
critical points--information, research, and communication.
  First, and in my opinion most importantly, this bill will ensure that 
information sent to women about silicone breast implants contains the 
most up to date and accurate information available.
  Current information packets sent to women do not accurately describe 
some of the potential risks of silicone breast implants. While recent 
studies by the Institute of Medicine indicate the rupture rate may be 
as high as 70 percent, information sent to women suggests the rupture 
rate is only 1 percent.
  Second, this bill encourages the director of the National Institutes 
of Health to expand existing research projects and clinical trials. 
Doing so will compliment past and existing studies and will hopefully 
clear up much of the confusion surrounding the safety and efficacy of 
silicone breast implants.
  Finally, this bill establishes an open line of communication between 
federal agencies, researchers, the public health community and patient 
and breast cancer advocates.
  Women, especially breast cancer patients, want and deserve full and 
open access to silicone breast implants. Therefore, it is critical that 
these products are safe and effective, and that women are provided 
complete and frequently updated information about the health risks and 
benefits of silicone breast implants.
  While I unequivocally support a women's right to choose to use 
silicone breast implants, I believe we have a responsibility to support 
research efforts that will provide the maximum amount of information 
and understanding about these products.
  Recently, I met with a group of women who had silicone breast 
implants. One of them shared with me her story about trying to get 
health insurance after she received her implants. To my dismay, it is 
standard operating procedures for several health plans to deny health 
insurance for women with breast implants. And this was a healthy woman! 
This story only reinforced my belief that silicone breast implants may 
cause very serious health problems.
  The day has come to answer the questions and find out what is causing 
so many women who have implants to get sick. I hope each of you join me 
in support of this important legislation.

                          ____________________