[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 92 (Thursday, June 28, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MICROBICIDES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2001

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Microbicides 
Development Act of 2001. I am pleased that so many of my good friends 
and colleagues have signed on as original cosponsors of this 
legislation which I am dropping in this evening. My thanks go to them.
  Mr. Speaker, this week the United Nations convened a special session 
of the U.N. General Assembly to address how to combat the spreading HIV 
and AIDS epidemic. We have entered the third decade in the battle 
against HIV and AIDS. June 5, 1981, marked the first reported case of 
AIDS by the Centers for Disease Control, and since that time 400,000 
people have died in the United States, and globally 21.8 million people 
have died of AIDS.
  Tragically, women now represent the fastest growing group of new HIV 
infections in the United States, and women of color are 
disproportionately at risk. In the developing world, women now account 
for more than half of the HIV infections, and there is growing evidence 
that the position of women in developing societies will be a critical 
factor in shaping the course of the AIDS pandemic.
  So what can women do? Women need and deserve access to a prevention 
method that is within their personal control. Women are the only group 
of people at risk who are expected to protect themselves without any 
tools to do so. We must strengthen women's immediate ability to protect 
themselves, including providing new women-controlled technologies; and 
one such technology does exist, called microbicides.
  The Microbicides Development Act, which I am introducing, will 
encourage Federal investment for this critical research with the 
establishment of programs at the National Institutes of Health and the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Through the work of NIH, 
nonprofit research institutions, and the private sector, a number of 
microbicide products are poised for successful development. But this 
support is no longer enough for actually getting microbicides through 
the development pipeline and into the hands of millions who could 
benefit from them. Microbicides can only be brought to market if the 
Federal Government helps support critical safety and efficacy testing.
  Health advocates around the world are convinced that microbicides 
could have a significant impact on HIV and AIDS and sexually 
transmitted diseases. Researchers have identified almost 60 
microbicides, topical creams and gels that could be used to prevent the 
spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, such as 
chlamydia and herpes. But interest in the private sector in 
microbicides research has been lacking.
  According to the Alliance for Microbicide Development, 38 biotech 
companies, 28 not-for-profit groups, and seven public agencies are 
investigating microbicides, and phase III clinical trials have begun on 
four of the most promising compounds. The studies will evaluate the 
compounds' efficacy and acceptability and will include consumer 
education as part of the compounds' development. However, it will be at 
least 2 years before any compound trials are completed.
  Currently, the bulk of funds for microbicides research comes from 
NIH, nearly $25 million per year, and the Global Microbicide Project, 
which was established with a $35 million grant from the Bill and 
Melinda Gates Foundation. However, more money is needed to bring the 
microbicides to market. Health advocates have asked NIH to increase the 
current budget for research to $75 million per year.
  Mr. Speaker, today the United States has the highest incidence of 
STDs in the industrialized world. Annually, it is estimated that 15.4 
million Americans acquired a new sexually transmitted disease. 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.
  This legislation has the potential to save billions of dollars in 
health care costs. Direct cost to the U.S. economy of sexually 
transmitted diseases and HIV infection is approximately $8.4 billion. 
When the indirect costs, such as lost productivity, are included, that 
figure will rise to an estimated $20 billion. With sufficient 
investment, a microbicide could be available around the world within 5 
years. Think of the difference that would make.
  I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this vital legislation.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Mrs. MORELLA. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to commend the gentlewoman from 
Bethesda, Maryland, for her long-time concern on issues related to 
women's health.
  I think this is a vitally important bill. It is something that this 
Congress should pass. It will affect millions and millions of women in 
a positive way. Sexually transmitted disease is a tremendous problem in 
this country. My hat is off to the gentlewoman, and I am happy to be a 
cosponsor of her bill.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I was just going to thank the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) for being a cosponsor and for his work in making 
sure that Americans have appropriate access to health care.

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