[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 103 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1398-E1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE NEW NATIONAL GOAL: THE 
                      ADVANCEMENT OF GLOBAL HEALTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2001

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise once again to bring to the attention 
of my colleagues the introduction of legislation to prove ``The 
National Commission for the New National Goal: The Advancement of 
Global Health.''
  The entire world acknowledges that the 20th century was engaged by 
our nation's leadership in the removal of the threat of totalitarianism 
and of world communism. Our national goals were the safeguard and 
expansion of democracy through the maintenance of military and 
political power. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, these goals were not 
only advanced but made a reality. As we enter the 21st century, our 
great nation has once again a unique opportunity to channel the genius 
of its technology, industrial might, scientific research and the will 
of our great citizens into a positive goal equal to the 20th century 
challenge of defeating totalitarianism.
  Today, it is time to rechannel our limitless energies to an all-out 
effort to enhance the health of every American and to combat disease 
worldwide. America's humanitarian and enlightened self-interest are 
substantial reasons to commit to the global eradication of disease such 
accomplishments would protect our citizens, improve quality of life, 
enhance our economy and ensure the continued advancement of American 
interests worldwide. While the actual eradication of disease on a 
global scale may not be possible, the pursuit of such a goal could lead 
to new products in health care, new medicines and new methods of 
treating disease.
  On June 30, 1999, I introduced into the 106th Congress H.R. 2399, the 
National Commission for the New National Goal: The Advancement of 
Global Health Act. I am reintroducing that measure today. This 
legislation would create a Presidential/Congressional commission to 
investigate how we as a nation can commit ourselves to the goal of the 
global eradication of disease. Specifically, this commission would 
recommend to Congress a
  In order to accomplish these objectives, the bill sets two tangible 
goals for the Commission. First, the Commission would assist the Center 
for Vaccine Development at the National Institutes of Health to achieve 
global control of infectious diseases. In addition, the Commission 
would utilize the NIH and NSF to expand health resources and research 
information globally through Internet conferencing and data 
dissemination capabilities. The Commission would also be authorized to 
spend up to $1 million as seed money to coordinate and attract private 
and public funds, both at home and abroad, to realize these goals.

[[Page E1399]]

  On September 13, 2001, Dr. Dyann Wirth, a professor at the Harvard 
University School of Public Health Department of Immunology and 
Infectious Disease, testified on this legislation before the House 
Commerce Committee subcommittee on Health and the Environment on behalf 
of the Joint Steering Committee for Public Policy. I would like to 
emphasize the following excerpt from her testimony:
  ``We support this bill because we believe that in this third 
millennium it is within the grasp of human capability to accelerate the 
role of basic biomedical research and the translation of that research 
to the benefit of the world's least fortunate people. Now is the time; 
scientific potential is there; it requires only political will to make 
it reality. . . .''
  According to the World Health Organization, infectious diseases 
account for more than 13 million deaths per year. That means that over 
the duration of this hearing 1,500 people will die from an infectious 
disease--half of them children under five. . . .
  As you know, most of these deaths occur in developing countries where 
extreme poverty and lack of access to basic health care, adequate 
sanitation and essential drugs can seal the fate of children before 
they are born. However, the enormous volume of travel and trade today 
have made infectious diseases blind to our national borders. . . .
  As we begin the 21st century, we are blessed with unimaginable 
opportunities to build on breakthrough research to control and prevent 
global infectious disease. This is not just altruism to reduce the 
suffering of the world's most needy; this is also a question of 
national security and health for the United States and its citizens. 
Renewed investment in the treatment and prevention of global infectious 
disease is a win-win situation for the country; by helping others 
across the world we are also launching the best defense to protect the 
health of our Nation's people.''
  The knowledge and unbounded imagination of researchers, doctors and 
scientists such as Dr. Dyann Wirth have ensured the preeminence of 
research that has fostered our freedom and economic well-being. Now, we 
can empower these individuals in an all-out effort to devise the 
methods and substances to eradicate disease worldwide. The concern for 
human life requires us to muster all available resources, bolstered by 
a concerted, dedicated will to eradicate disease from the face of the 
Earth.
  Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

                          ____________________