[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 101 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STATEMENT OF INTRODUCTION HeLP AMERICA ACT

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, health care promotion programs 
have the potential to improve health, improve quality of life, reduce 
health care costs, and boost productivity. Unfortunately, a very small 
percentage of health care spending is devoted to health promotion. The 
national investment in prevention is currently estimated to be less 
than 5 percent of annual health care costs. Our Nation needs a new 
approach to healthcare--one that puts prevention front and center.
  That is why I rise today to introduce the Healthier Lifestyles and 
Prevention America Act, also known as the HeLP America Act. My 
legislation is very similar to S. 1074, a bill of the same name, which 
was introduced by Senator Harkin. Both Senator Harkin's bill and my 
bill are designed to reduce health care costs and improve health 
outcomes by reorienting our nation's health care system towards 
prevention, wellness, and self care.
  The HeLP America Act is a comprehensive approach to prevention and 
health promotion. It provides tools .and incentives for schools to 
improve their nutrition programs. It provides tax incentives for 
employers to implement wellness programs. It provides grants for 
communities to implement activities to prevent and reduce the incidence 
of obesity, and chronic diseases associated with this condition. My 
bill also gives the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products, and 
requires nutrition labeling on menus in chain restaurants. These are 
just a few of the provisions included in the legislation designed to 
attack the problem of skyrocketing health care costs associated with 
the increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
  Adaptable lifestyle factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, 
poor nutrition, unmanaged stress, and obesity account for approximately 
half of premature deaths in the United States. Spending on chronic 
diseases related to lifestyle and other preventable diseases account 
for an estimated 75 percent of total health care spending. And Mr. 
Speaker, as you and all of our colleagues know, our nation's total 
amount of health care spending is no small sum. In fact, according to 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, total health care 
spending in 2004 was $1.8 trillion. Furthermore Mr. Speaker, CMS 
estimates that this number will double by 2014. For those keeping score 
at home, that means in 2014 total health care expenditures will be $3.6 
trillion.
  With a greater focus on prevention, we will be able to greatly reduce 
the number of individuals who suffer from all types of ailments, 
including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and strokes just to name a 
few areas where preventive health care can make the difference. It will 
improve health outcomes, improve people's lives, and help cut down on 
our exploding healthcare expenditures. As is noted in the findings of 
this legislation, per capita health spending in the United States is 56 
percent greater than the median for countries in the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and Development. Mr. Speaker, this is 
unacceptable. We need to get more bang for our healthcare buck and we 
need to look no further than focusing on prevention. As the saying 
goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in seeking a new and 
more effective approach to the health of our nation by cosponsoring the 
HeLP Act.

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