[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

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                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2006

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this first day of National Kidney 
Month to recognize the efforts of numerous dedicated individuals, many 
in this body, who work not only to increase awareness about the 
devastating effects of kidney disease, but who also look for ways to 
eradicate this debilitating disease once and for all.
  Today, more than 400,000 Americans are living with the wretched pain 
and horrible inconvenience of kidney failure, leaving them dependent 
upon life-saving dialysis three to four times each week. Twenty million 
more have Chronic Kidney Disease, where patients experience a gradual 
deterioration of kidney function, the end result of which is kidney 
failure.
  The leading causes of these diseases are diabetes and high blood 
pressure, which disproportionately affect African Americans and 
Latinos. Diabetes occurs at twice the rate in the African American 
community as it does in white Americans. As of 2002, two million Latino 
adults had been diagnosed with diabetes. High blood pressure is also 
more prevalent in these communities. In fact, one in three African 
American adults are affected by high blood pressure. According to the 
American Heart Association, the prevalence of hypertension in African 
Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world.
  Both Chronic Kidney Disease and kidney failure disproportionately 
affect African Americans and Latinos. African Americans make up about 
13 percent of the U.S. population but comprise 32 percent of patients 
treated for kidney failure, giving them a kidney failure rate that is 
4.2 times greater than that of white Americans. Among patients with 
diabetes, Latinos are between 4.5 and 6.6 times more likely to develop 
kidney disease than non-Hispanic white Americans.
  Given that early kidney disease has no symptoms, most people do not 
realize that they are in danger of kidney failure. Therefore, it is 
critically important for all of us, whether it be members of Congress, 
health organizations or our extended families, to do our best to 
increase awareness of the dangers of kidney disease and encourage our 
family members, our friends and our neighbors who have high blood 
pressure and diabetes to ask their doctors to run simple blood and 
urine tests that can detect potential problems.
  The good news is that once diagnosed, patients can receive high 
quality care. Individuals with kidney disease who are able to obtain 
treatment early experience a higher quality of life and are able to 
maintain more of their day-to-day activities, including keeping their 
jobs. This is a situation to which an ounce of prevention results in a 
gallon of future savings, both in quality of life and in hard dollars 
for individuals and for the government.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the goals set forth in observance of National 
Kidney Month, for we must continue to raise awareness about this 
important issue and to show support for Americans living with kidney 
disease. But, I am concerned that in an environment in which our 
budgetary priorities include cutting funding for the National Institute 
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease to the tune of $20 million 
in fiscal year 2006 and '07, we are not doing enough to thwart the 
increase in kidney failure and the conditions from which it results. We 
cannot ignore the human suffering and financial consequences of kidney 
failure. Our failure to make this disease a major legislative priority 
will cost us greatly in the future.

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