[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2553-E2554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                H.R. 4550, THE NATIONAL HEPATITIS B ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4550, 
the National Hepatitis B Act. Mr. Dent from Pennsylvania and I have 
partnered in this bipartisan effort to address the needs of Americans 
afflicted with chronic Hepatitis B.
  Chronic Hepatitis B is a serious public health concern here in the 
United States and worldwide. The Hepatitis B vaccine is the most 
effective way to prevent chronic Hepatitis B and its deadly 
implications of liver cancer and liver failure. Yet, vaccination rates 
remain low and Hepatitis B is one of the most commonly reported 
vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S.
  Chronic Hepatitis B is often called a ``silent disease'' because more 
than two-thirds of those infected with Hepatitis B have no recognized 
symptoms. Without appropriate screening and management of the disease, 
one in four Hepatitis B carriers dies from liver cancer or liver 
disease. Early detection reduces the likelihood that the virus is 
unknowingly transmitted to others. Unfortunately, many of those who 
become infected with the disease do not recognize the symptoms until 
after they have developed significant liver damage or have already 
passed it on.
  Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, I am especially concerned because Hepatitis B is one of the 
greatest health disparities affecting the Asian Pacific Islander 
American community. As many as 1 in 10 Asian Pacific Islander Americans 
are chronically infected with the Hepatitis B virus.
  We all have constituents affected by this disease. More importantly, 
we have the ability to stop the spread of this disease. Last May, I was 
pleased by the strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate 
for the resolutions supporting National Hepatitis B Awareness Week. We 
also had tremendous bipartisan interest in the Hepatitis B ``Aim for 
the B'' Congressional Briefing held on July 21, 2005.
  We know that there is hope. We have vaccines and treatments available 
that were not available 25 years ago. With treatment, patients have a 
better shot at beating this disease and preventing its progression to 
liver disease. However, 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

[[Page E2554]]

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.
  I urge all my colleagues to come together to prioritize this public 
health issue and support H.R. 4550.

                          ____________________