[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 58 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE LAUNCH OF NATIONAL HEPATITIS B AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES W. DENT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2006

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of the 
Hepatitis B Foundation, which is located in my state of Pennsylvania, 
as well as all the groups involved in the ``AIM for the B'' campaign 
which seeks to raise awareness for chronic hepatitis B. The ``AIM for 
the B'' campaign has been working over the past 3 years to encourage 
communities most impacted by the chronic hepatitis B virus, including 
Asian Americans, to seek treatment for the disease, and to prioritize 
the disease as a serious health issue in the U.S. and I commend them 
for this noble goal.
  In the United States, approximately one out of every 10 Asian 
Americans is chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, resulting 
in more than half of the chronic hepatitis B cases and half of the 
deaths resulting from chronic hepatitis B infection. Today, only a 
small percentage of diagnosed chronic hepatitis B patients are being 
actively managed for their disease. Every year, approximately one 
million people worldwide die from chronic hepatitis B because they are 
diagnosed past the point where medical care and intervention can be 
effective.
  In December, I, along with Congressman Mike Honda, introduced H.R. 
4550, the National Hepatitis B Act, which included strategies for 
expanded vaccination programs, primary and secondary preventive 
education and training, surveillance and early detection, and research. 
I want to thank Congressman Honda for his tireless efforts on behalf of 
this issue and my 21 colleagues who have already recognized the 
importance of this legislation and are currently cosponsors of this 
bill. I encourage my colleagues to be a part of the solution to this 
terrible and silent disease and sign on to co-sponsor this important 
legislation.
  Today, Congressman Honda and I along with representatives from the 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), patient advocacy organizations, physicians and patients 
joined together at a Congressional Briefing in the Rayburn House Office 
Building hosted by the ``AIM for the B'' campaign to kick off National 
Hepatitis B Awareness Week. The week will educate communities, patients 
and families about chronic hepatitis B through events held across the 
country. The briefing was designed to increase knowledge of chronic 
hepatitis B as a serious health issue in the United States and to 
emphasize the importance of increasing diagnosis, screening and 
treatment. The briefing allowed us to communicate the potential 
consequences of chronic hepatitis B and to lay out actions needed to 
increase treatment rates for this extremely infectious disease.
  I want to take this opportunity to especially recognize the Hepatitis 
B Foundation based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. As a representative of 
Pennsylvania, I am pleased to support this national non-profit 
organization solely dedicated to the global problem of hepatitis B. The 
foundation was founded in 1991, with the support of Dr. Baruch 
Blumberg, who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the hepatitis B 
virus. In just 10 years, the Hepatitis B Foundation has grown from a 
grassroots effort into a national non-profit organization dedicated to 
finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by 
hepatitis B.
  As we begin National Hepatitis B Awareness week, I urge my colleagues 
to reflect on the severity of hepatitis B and take steps to educate, 
raise awareness about and put an end to this disease. Together, we can 
make a difference in addressing this U.S. and global public health 
issue.

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