[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING THE ARTHRITIS PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND CURE ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Arthritis 
Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2005.
  With more than 100 different forms, arthritis is one of the most 
widespread and devastating chronic diseases in the United States. These 
conditions are extremely costly to our health care system, our economic 
vitality, and erode the quality of life for nearly 70 million, or one 
in every three Americans who suffers from arthritis or chronic joint 
symptoms. It is estimated that 300,000 children are affected by 
juvenile arthritis, a disease with high prevalence yet widely unknown, 
that causes deformity, blindness and in some cases death. As the number 
one cause of disability in the United States, arthritis is a painful 
and debilitating disease affecting men, women and children alike--
arthritis has no boundaries. Simple, daily tasks like brushing teeth, 
pouring a cup of coffee and even just getting out of bed become 
excruciating obstacles for millions of people with the disease.
  The costs associated with arthritis are immense. The disease results 
in 750,000 hospitalizations, 44 million outpatient visits and 4 million 
days of hospital care every year. The estimated total costs of 
arthritis in the United States, including lost productivity, exceeds 
$86 billion.
  While the current impact of the disease is quite astounding, efforts 
now can help prevent and control arthritis for future generations. 
Despite myths that inaccurately portray this illness as an old persons' 
disease, two-thirds of those with osteoarthritis are under the age of 
65. Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active are both 
steps that can prevent this form of arthritis. More broadly, the pain 
and disability accompanying all types of arthritis can be minimized 
through early diagnosis and appropriate disease management.
  This legislation will bring critical Federal resources to bear on a 
significant public health problem facing this country. This legislation 
will lessen the burden of arthritis on society and on individual 
citizens, like my constituent, Alfred Price of Brandon, Mississippi. 
Mr. Price has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for more than 50 
years, and I have witnessed over the years how this disease has ravaged 
his body.

  In recent years, research into the prevention and treatment of 
arthritis has led to measures that successfully reduce pain and improve 
the quality of life for millions. This legislation would develop a 
National Arthritis Education and Outreach Campaign to educate 
healthcare professionals and the public on successful self-management 
strategies for controlling and preventing arthritis. To ensure greater 
coordination and intensification of federal research efforts, this 
legislation would create a National Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases 
Summit to look at challenges and opportunities related to arthritis 
research within all the agencies of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. Finally, this legislation expands research for juvenile 
arthritis at the National Institutes of Health through the creation of 
planning grants for innovative research. To address the severe shortage 
of pediatric rheumatologists, it creates incentives to encourage 
physicians to enter the specialty field through the establishment of 
education loan repayment and career development award programs.
  Mr. Speaker, we must make the necessary investments in the fight 
against arthritis--our Nation's number one cause of disability. This 
legislation will improve the quality of life for millions of adults and 
children and save our nation valuable human and economic resources. I 
urge all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support this 
legislation and enact it in a timely manner so millions of Americans, 
like Mr. Price, can live life with less pain.

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