[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1696-E1697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REMARKS ON THE HEPATITIS AWARENESS WEEK CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and report on last 
week's ``Aim for the B'' Congressional Briefing held on July 21st. 
Chronic Hepatitis B is a serious health concern that is finally 
receiving much needed attention. Almost 350 million people worldwide 
have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, with 75 percent of those 
infected living in Asia. In the United States, approximately 1.25 
million people are chronically infected with this life-threatening 
disease. Asian Pacific Americans have the highest rate of chronic 
hepatitis B infection of all ethnic groups.
  Chronic hepatitis B is extremely dangerous because it can lead to 
cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer. The hepatitis B 
virus is transmitted through blood and body fluids, unprotected sex, 
childbirth and unsterilized needles. Unfortunately, many of those who 
become infected with the disease do not recognize symptoms until after 
they have developed significant liver damage.
  The ``Aim for the B'' campaign was launched during the week of May 
9th of this year through the passage of House and Senate resolutions. I 
want to applaud my colleagues who supported this resolution for their 
understanding of the need to focus additional attention and increase 
awareness of this disease nationwide. Last week's Congressional 
briefing delved further into the issues of hepatitis B, including the 
efforts of the Federal Government to combat the spread of hepatitis B 
and treat those already affected with this disease.
  The briefing featured many well-known researchers and advocates in 
the field. I was pleased to have the opportunity to sit on the panel 
with Dr. John Ward, the Division of Viral Hepatitis Director at the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Jay

[[Page E1697]]

Hoofnagle, Director of the Liver Disease Research Branch at the 
National Institutes of Health. Their insight into the advances being 
made by the CDC and NIH painted a picture of a disease that is ``on the 
run,'' but not yet eradicated. Attendees were also able to hear a 
personal testimonial from a hepatitis B patient, as well as advocacy 
efforts being undertaken by the Hepatitis B Foundation, American Liver 
Foundation, and the Hepatitis Foundation International.
  We know that there is hope. We know that there are vaccines and 
treatments available that were not available 25 years ago. We know that 
with treatment, patients have a better shot at beating this disease and 
preventing its progression to liver disease. We also know that there is 
much work that needs to be done. We need to increase public education 
about hepatitis B, help infected patients and their physicians identify 
and manage this disease, raise awareness of the consequences of 
untreated chronic hepatitis B, and help increase the length and quality 
of life for those diagnosed with this life-threatening disease. We need 
to improve state-by-state tracking of trends, incidences and prevalence 
of chronic hepatitis B. Finally, we need to prioritize this disease as 
a major health issue in the United States, and to provide national 
agencies such as the CDC and NIH with the funding they need to increase 
research and education for chronic hepatitis B.
  In closing, I would like to thank the organizers of last week's 
Congressional briefing for keeping this issue in the forefront of the 
medical discussion. And I especially want to thank the attendees of the 
briefing for showing the commitment to beating this disease through 
education and awareness. This is a call to action that I hope will 
produce the ultimate result of eradication.

                          ____________________