[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL WOMENS' HEALTH WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor National Women's 
Health Week. I commend all of the women who have worked so hard to 
improve the health of all women. You are making a difference in the 
healthcare of American women.
  We have much to celebrate, in the past decade, funding for breast and 
ovarian cancer at the National Cancer Institute has more than 
quadrupled, and funding for osteoporosis has grown from only two 
osteoporosis-specific grants in the entire country in the early 1980's 
to more than $80 million in osteoporosis-specific research grants 
today.
  However, our job is far from over, we need to protect the work we 
have done, and more work remains for the 21st Century. Despite great 
strides on women's health research, we still must be vigilant and must 
address issues that are not receiving the public attention and research 
priority that they deserve.
  One example is microbicides. Today the United States has the highest 
incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the industrialized 
world--15.4 million Americans acquired an STD in 1999 alone. STDs cause 
serious, costly, even deadly conditions for women and their children, 
including infertility, pregnancy complications, cervical cancer, infant 
mortality, and higher risk of contracting HIV.
  Microbicides are a potential new class of products that women can 
use, like today's spermicides, to prevent HIV infection as well as 
other STDs.
  Microbicides have the potential to save billions in health care 
costs. The total cost to the U.S. economy of STDs, excluding HIV 
infection, was approximately $10 billion in 1999 alone. When the cost 
of sexually transmitted HIV infection is included, that total rises to 
$17 billion.
  With sufficient investment, a microbicide could be available around 
the world within five years. Microbicide research and development 
receives less than 1% of the federal AIDS research budget, and best 
estimates show that less than half his amount is dedicated directly to 
product development. Clearly this is not nearly enough to keep pace 
with the growing STD and HIV epidemics.
  Mr. Speaker, because of the need for focuses research on women's 
health, I have introduced legislation, that can serve as a catalyst for 
women's health. The ``Women's Health Office Act of 2001'' H.R. 1784, 
will provide for permanent authorization for offices of women's health 
in five federal agencies: the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the Agency 
for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ); the Health Resources and 
Services Administration (HRSA); and the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA).
  This bill includes authorization for appropriations to ensure that 
future funding will be adequate to support these offices' missions and 
programs.
  Providing statutory authorization for federal women's health offices 
is a critical step in ensuring that women's health research continue to 
receive the attention it requires in the twenty-first century.
  I can say without exaggeration that women working together--as 
patients, lawyers, advocates, medical researchers, and members of 
Congress--have been a powerful catalyst for the advances we have made 
in the research and treatment of breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer, 
osteoporosis, and heart disease.
  I look forward to the continuation of our work together and a strong 
record of high achievements.
  I look forward to supporting legislation and programs to address the 
health needs of our citizens and the fundamental challenges posed by 
our nation's health care system.

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