[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12013-S12014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 1930. A bill to expand the research, prevention, and awareness 
activities of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 
Kidney Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with 
respect to inflammatory bowel disease; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
focused on a devastating condition known as inflammatory bowel disease 
(IBD). I am pleased that Senator Cochran has once again joined me in 
the fight against this painful and debilitating disease.
  Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as 
inflammatory bowel disease, are chronic disorders of the 
gastrointestinal tract which afflict approximately 1.4 million 
Americans, 30 percent whom are diagnosed in their childhood years. IBD 
can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, and intestinal bleeding. 
Complications related to the disease include; arthritis, osteoporosis, 
anemia, liver disease, growth and developmental challenges, and 
colorectal cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease represents a major cause 
of morbidity from digestive illness and has a devastating impact on 
patients and families.
  In the 108th Congress I was proud to sponsor bipartisan legislation 
focused on IBD that attracted 36 co-sponsors. Several important 
provisions of that bill were incorporated into legislation known as the 
``Research Review Act'' which was signed into law by the President last 
November. Specifically, the ``Research Review Act'' called on the 
Government Accountability Office and the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention to submit reports to Congress on three issues of 
critical importance to the IBD community, 1. Social Security 
Disability, 2. Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and 3. the epidemiology 
of the disease in the United States.
  The legislation I am introducing today builds upon the progress made 
last year by calling for an increased Federal investment in biomedical 
research on IBD. The hope for a better quality of life patients and 
families depends on basic and clinical research sponsored by the 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the 
National Institutes of Health (NIDDK). The ``Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
Research Act'' calls for an expansion of NIDDK's research portfolio on 
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in order to capitalize on 
several exciting discoveries that have broadened our understanding of 
IBD in recent years. By increasing our investment in this area, we will 
maximize the possibility that we will be able to offer hope to millions 
of Americans who suffer from this debilitating disease. At the same 
time, progress in this area could also mean we would save millions of 
dollars in net health care expenditures through reduced 
hospitalizations and surgeries.
  In addition to biomedical research, this legislation also calls on 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a ``National 
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Action Plan.'' This plan will provide a 
comprehensive approach to addressing the burden of IBD in the United 
States, including strategies for raising awareness of the disease among 
the general public and health care community, expanding epidemiological 
research focused on the prevalence of IBD, and preventing the 
progression of the disease and its complications.
  The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, an organization that 
has been a leader in the battle against IBD, has strongly endorsed this 
legislation. In addition to CCFA, the following organizations have 
endorsed this bill: The North American Society for Pediatric 
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the American 
Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for 
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the Digestive Disease National Coalition, 
the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, and the 
Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology.
  I urge all Senators to join Senator Cochran and me in this important 
cause by co-sponsoring the ``Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Act.''
  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. 1930

       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 ``Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
     Research Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are serious 
     inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
       (2) Crohn's disease may occur in any section of the 
     gastrointestinal tract but is predominately found in the 
     lower part of the small intestine and the large intestine. 
     Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation and 
     ulceration of the innermost lining of the colon. Complete 
     removal of the colon in patients with ulcerative colitis can 
     potentially alleviate and cure symptoms.
       (3) Because Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis behave 
     similarly, they are collectively known as inflammatory bowel 
     disease. Both diseases present a variety of symptoms, 
     including severe diarrhea; abdominal pain with cramps; fever; 
     and rectal bleeding. There is no known cause of inflammatory 
     bowel disease, or medical cure.
       (4) It is estimated that up to 1,400,000 people in the 
     United States suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, 30 
     percent of whom are diagnosed during their childhood years.
       (5) Children with inflammatory bowel disease miss school 
     activities because of bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain, and 
     many adults who had onset of inflammatory bowel disease as 
     children had delayed puberty and impaired growth and have 
     never reached their full genetic growth potential.
       (6) Inflammatory bowel disease patients are at high risk 
     for developing colorectal cancer.
       (7) The total annual medical costs for inflammatory bowel 
     disease patients is estimated at more than $2,000,000,000.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND 
                   KIDNEY DISEASES; INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE 
                   RESEARCH EXPANSION.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
     Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shall expand, 
     intensify, and coordinate the activities of the Institute 
     with respect to research on inflammatory bowel disease, with 
     particular emphasis on the following areas:
       (1) Genetic research on susceptibility for inflammatory 
     bowel disease, including the interaction of genetic and 
     environmental factors in the development of the disease.
       (2) Research targeted to increase knowledge about the 
     causes and complications of inflammatory bowel disease in 
     children.
       (3) Animal model research on inflammatory bowel disease, 
     including genetics in animals.
       (4) Clinical inflammatory bowel disease research, including 
     clinical studies and treatment trials.
       (5) Expansion of the Institute's Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
     Centers program with a focus on pediatric research.
       (6) Other research initiatives identified by the scientific 
     document entitled ``Challenges in Inflammatory Bowel 
     Disease'' and the research agenda for pediatric 
     gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition entitled ``Chronic 
     Inflammatory Bowel Disease''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--

[[Page S12014]]

       (1) In general.--For the purpose of carrying out subsection 
     (a), there are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2006, $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and 
     $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (2) Reservation.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than 20 percent 
     shall be reserved for the training of qualified health 
     professionals in biomedical research focused on inflammatory 
     bowel disease, including pediatric investigators.

     SEC. 4. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION; NATIONAL 
                   INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE ACTION PLAN.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Preparation of plan.--The Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, in consultation with the 
     inflammatory bowel disease community, shall prepare a 
     comprehensive plan to address the burden of inflammatory 
     bowel disease in both adult and pediatric populations (which 
     plan shall be designated by the Director as the ``National 
     Inflammatory Bowel Disease Action Plan'').
       (2) Report to congress.-- Not later than 12 months after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit the 
     Plan referred to in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations in the House 
     of Representatives and to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations in the 
     Senate.
       (b) Content.--
       (1) In general.--The National Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
     Action Plan shall address strategies for determining the true 
     prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the United 
     States, and the unique demographic characteristics of the 
     patient community through the expansion of appropriate 
     epidemiological activities.
       (2) Certain requirements.-- The Plan referred to in 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) focus on strategies for increasing awareness about 
     inflammatory bowel disease within the general public and the 
     health care community in order to facilitate more timely and 
     accurate diagnoses; and
       (B) address mechanisms designed to prevent the progression 
     of the disease and the development of complications, such as 
     colorectal cancer, and other strategies and activities as 
     deemed appropriate.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
     2006.
                                 ______