[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 38 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S3418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
  S. 583. A bill to require the provision of information to parents and 
adults concerning bacterial meningitis and the availability of a 
vaccination with respect to such disease; to the Committee on Health 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators 
Voinovich, DeWine, Mikulski and Warner to offer health legislation that 
will bring great benefits to many of our Nation's families.
  Bacterial meningitis affects 3,000 people across the United States 
each year. Approximately 10 percent of patients with bacterial 
meningitis die despite receiving antibiotics early in the course of the 
disease. Meningitis occurs most frequently in infants and young adults 
living in dormitory settings. The disease can result in permanent brain 
damage, hearing loss, learning disability, limb amputation, kidney 
failure or death.
  In 2001, Lydia Evans entered her sophomore year at North Texas 
University as a healthy 20-year-old. Now she's lost both of her legs, 
parts of seven fingers and endured 15 surgeries and intensive physical 
therapy. She is a victim of a terrible, yet little-known disease called 
meningococcal meningitis.
  Carolyn Waghorne of Dallas contacted me after the tragic death of her 
son, Carter, who contracted meningitis at boarding school in 1998. Mrs. 
Waghorne has led the battle in our State to create awareness about the 
dangers of the illness. After hearing her story, I knew we needed to 
help educate all Americans about this devastating--yet preventable--
disease.
  My bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
consultation with the Director of the Centers of Disease Control, CDC, 
to develop and make information available about bacterial meningitis. 
In addition, it would provide information about the availability and 
effectiveness of bacterial meningitis vaccinations for children and 
adults.
  The information would be distributed at institutions, including child 
care centers, schools, universities, boarding schools, summer camps, 
detention facilities, and other entities that provide housing in a 
dorm-like setting.
  Meningitis is spread through close contact such as coughing or 
sneezing and direct contact with persons infected with meningitis. The 
bacteria cannot live outside the body for very long, so the disease is 
not as easily transmitted as a cold virus. Many healthy people carry 
the bacteria, but if a person has a suppressed immune system they may 
contract the disease. A spinal tap procedure enables doctors to 
diagnose meningitis, and if the disease is discovered, it is treated 
with antibiotics.
  The disease can result in permanent brain damage, hearing loss, 
learning disability, limb amputation, kidney failure or death.
  The CDC reports that two-thirds of cases on college campuses could 
have been prevented with a vaccine. In fact, the Advisory Commission on 
Immunization Practices, part of the CDC, recommends what this bill 
provides.
  I commend the Senators for their support and hope other Senators will 
join us in this effort to prevent the tragedies that befell Lydia Evans 
and Carolyn Waghorne as well as thousands of families every year.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 583

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Meningitis Immunization 
     Awareness Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Approximately 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease 
     occur each year in the United States. Approximately 10 to 13 
     percent of patients with such disease die despite receiving 
     antibiotics early in the disease. Of those individuals who 
     survive, an additional 10 percent have severe after-effects 
     of the disease, including mental retardation, hearing loss, 
     and loss of limbs.
       (2) There is a vaccine that protects individuals against 
     some types of bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (also known as 
     meningococcus), an important cause of bacterial meningitis 
     and sepsis in children and young adults. A single dose of the 
     vaccine is recommended, and vaccination will decrease the 
     risk of the disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis.
       (3) Currently, the only group of individuals that is 
     vaccinated against bacterial meningitis is the members of the 
     armed forces. The only other group of individuals that have 
     been encouraged to get the vaccine are those individuals 
     attending college.

     SEC. 3. PROVISION OF INFORMATION.

       (a) Development of Information.--The Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop and 
     make available to entities described in subsection (b) 
     information concerning bacterial meningitis and the 
     availability and effectiveness of vaccinations for 
     individuals 2 years of age or older with respect to such 
     disease.
       (b) Entities.--An entity is described in this subsection if 
     the entity--
       (1) is--
       (A) a child care center or provider that is licensed or 
     certified under an appropriate State law;
       (B) an elementary or secondary school (as such terms are 
     defined in the Elementary and Secondary School Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
       (C) a college or university;
       (D) a boarding school or summer camp;
       (E) a prison or other detention facility; or
       (F) any other entity that provides for the housing of 
     individuals in a dorm-like setting; and
       (2) any other entity determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services.
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