[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2075-S2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. Bond, Mr. akaka, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
        Menendez, Mr. Craig, and Mr. Shelby):
  S. 626 A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
arthritis research and public health, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join Senator Bond in 
introducing ``The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act.''
  Our goal in this important initiative is to provide a strong federal 
response to arthritis. Early diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate 
management of arthritis can control its symptoms, improve the quality 
of life of patients, and Federal action will improve the lives of the 
family members and caregivers of those affected by the disease.
  Arthritis exits in more than a hundred different forms. It's one of 
the most devastating diseases impairing the health of the American 
people. It's second only to heart disease as a cause of work 
disability. It undermines everyday activities such as walking, dressing 
and bathing for more than seven million Americans.
  One out of very five adults in the United States suffers from some 
form of arthritis. The number of patients in the U.S. with arthritis 
will keep growing as the number of older Americans continues to 
increase dramatically in the next few decades. Today, 8.7 million 
adults, ages 18 through 44, have arthritis and millions of others are 
at risk of developing the disease.
  In fact, arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses and 
the

[[Page S2076]]

leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15. More than 40 
percent of adults with arthritis are limited in their activities 
because of their arthritis. By 2030, nearly 25 percent of the projected 
United States adult population will have arthritis and these numbers 
don't account for the current trends in obesity, which may contribute 
to future cases of the disease.
  It is an illness that affects all types of people in the U.S., not 
just older Americans. Arthritis knows no boundaries. Men, women and 
children are all afflicted with the disease. According to the Arthritis 
Foundation, 24 million women and 17 million men have been diagnosed 
with arthritis by their doctors. Women are still disproportionately 
affected by the disease.
  Nearly 3 out of every 1,000 American children are affected by 
arthritis. The devastating effects of pediatric arthritis justifies 
greater investment by the federal government in research and to 
identify more effective treatments.
  Special concerns are raised by juvenile arthritis because of its 
impact on family relationships, school life, dating, sports and other 
aspects active, growing youths. Teens and young adults entering the 
workforce face even greater challenges.
  Arthritis an other rheumatic diseases cost our economy $128 billion 
annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
In 2003, the cost was equivalent to 1.2 percent of the nation's gross 
domestic product. $80 million of that amount were direct costs for 
medical care and $47 million were indirect costs for lost earnings. 
National medical costs attributed to arthritis grew by 24 percent 
between 1997 and 2003, with an increase attributed to the growing 
number of people affected with the disease.

  In 1975, Congress enacted the National Arthritis Act to encourage 
basic and clinical research, establish Multipurpose Arthritis Centers 
and expand clinical knowledge of the illness. The act was successful in 
implementing and continued funding of research and has led to important 
advances in the control, treatment and prevention of the illness.
  Early diagnosis, treatment and management can control symptoms and 
improve the quality of life. Weight control and exercise can help lower 
risks. Patient education, training and self-management also contribute 
to greater control of these diseases. Innovative and increasingly 
effective drug therapies, joint replacements, and other therapeutic 
alternatives are being developed.
  Despite much research identifying effective interventions, many of 
them are not being used well enough and the inevitable result is 
unnecessary loss of life, poorer health and poorer quality of life.
  Our legislation will expand the effort to find new ways to prevent, 
treat and care for patients with arthritis and related rheumatic 
diseases.
  It will enhance the National Arthritis Action Plan by providing 
additional support to federal, state and private efforts to prevent and 
manage arthritis. It will establish a National Arthritis Education and 
Outreach Campaign to inform the health care profession and the public 
about the most successful self-management strategies for controlling 
the illness.
  With greater coordination and intensification of federal research, 
this bill will organize a National Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases 
Summit to look at the challenges and opportunities related to these 
efforts.
  In addition, the bill will provide greater attention to juvenile 
arthritis research by offering planning grants for research specific to 
juveniles and by prioritizing the activities that create better 
understanding of the incidence and outcomes associated with juvenile 
arthritis.
  Finally the bill contains incentives to encourage health 
professionals to enter the field of pediatric rheumatology by education 
loan repayment and career development awards.
  I urge my colleagues to support this public health initiative to 
reduce the pain and disability of arthritis. Early diagnosis, effective 
treatment and greater investment in research and prevention can help us 
wage a stronger battle against one of the most widespread and 
devastating conditions affecting our Nation.
                                 ______