[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 15, 2006

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, as Congress recognizes National Kidney 
Month, I join my colleagues in their efforts to increase awareness 
about the devastating effects of kidney disease. More than 400,000 
Americans must receive life-saving dialysis three to four times each 
week because their kidneys have failed. In addition, more than 20 
million citizens have chronic kidney disease, which is the precursor to 
kidney failure. Patients with kidney disease experience a gradual 
deterioration of kidney function that eventually progresses to kidney 
failure. Patients may live with the disease 10 or more years without 
outward symptoms before their kidneys fail. Once a patient develops 
kidney failure, his or her kidney function is so low that without 
dialysis or kidney transplantation death will occur from accumulation 
of fluids and waste products in the body.
  Recognizing the need to educate my colleagues on kidney disease, I 
founded and co-chair the Congressional Kidney Caucus with my colleague 
Representative Mark Steven Kirk. Members of the Kidney Caucus are 
especially concerned about the growing prevalence of this disease.
  Mr. Speaker, the leading causes of this disease is diabetes and high 
blood pressure, which as you are no doubt aware also disproportionately 
affect African Americans and Latino Americans. Given that early kidney 
disease has no symptoms, most people do not realize that their kidneys 
are about to fail. Therefore, it is critically important to increase 
awareness of the dangers of kidney disease, especially among the 
African American and Latino American communities. Individuals with high 
blood pressure and diabetes should ask their doctors to run simple 
blood and urine tests that can detect kidney disease.
  If treated early, individuals with kidney disease will experience an 
improved quality of life and be able to maintain more daily life 
activities, including keeping their jobs. In addition, preventing 
kidney failure and improving care will result in substantial savings 
for the taxpayer.
  I applaud the efforts of my colleagues to raise awareness about this 
important issue and to show support for Americans living with kidney 
disease. We must act now to help Americans learn more about this deadly 
disease and how to prevent its development and progression to kidney 
failure.

                          ____________________