[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10716-S10717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN:
  S. 2922. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the activities of 
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with respect to research 
on pulmonary hypertension; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
designed to enhance Federal research on an emerging chronic disease in 
the U.S. known as pulmonary hypertension. PH is a serious and often 
fatal condition where the blood pressure in the lungs rises to 
dangerously high levels. In PH patients, the walls of the arteries that 
take blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs thicken and 
constrict. As a result, the right side of the heart has to pump harder 
to move blood into the lungs, causing it to enlarge and ultimately 
fail.
  PH can occur without a known cause or be secondary to other 
conditions such as; collagen vascular diseases, i.e., scleroderma and 
lupus, blood clots, HIV, sickle cell, and liver disease. PH does not 
discriminate based on race, gender or age. Patients develop symptoms of 
shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and fainting. 
Unfortunately, these symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed, leaving 
patients

[[Page S10717]]

with the false impression that they have a minor pulmonary or 
cardiovascular condition. By the time many patients receive an accurate 
diagnosis, the disease has progressed to a late stage, making it 
impossible to receive a necessary heart or lung transplant.
  With this legislation, I am proud to join the Pulmonary Hypertension 
Association in the fight against this deadly illness. PHA is the 
Nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to finding a cure 
for PH and improving the quality of life for PH patients and their 
families. I would particularly like to recognize the contributions of 
four PHA members from my home State of Texas who have contributed so 
much to this worthy cause--Leo and Bobbie Fields, and Jack Stibbs and 
his daughter Emily. Their commitment to improving the quality of life 
for PH patients and pursuing a cure for this disease is truly 
inspiring. I would also like to recognize our colleague Congressman 
Kevin Brady for his leadership in introducing the ``PH Research Act'' 
in the other body.
  A few years ago the scientifc community discovered the first gene 
associated with pulmonary hypertension. This was a landmark discovery 
in the battle to unravel the mystery surrounding this disease. The ``PH 
Research Act'' seeks to capitalize on this exciting advancement by 
establishing ``Centers of Excellence'' on pulmonary hypertension 
through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National 
Institutes of Health. These Centers would focus on: 1. basic and 
clinical research into the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of PH: 2. 
the training of new investigators in PH research; 3. continuing 
education for health care professionals regarding PH with a focus on 
early diagnosis and 4. the dissemination of information regarding the 
disease to the general public.
  This is an important bill that has the potential to help tens of 
thousands of Americans and their families, who are struggling with this 
devastating disease. I look forward to working with the Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to advance the ``PH Research 
Act.''
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