[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6472-S6473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 1445. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish, promote, and 
support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management 
referral program for hepatitis C virus infection; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join my colleague 
Senator Hutchison in introducing the Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and 
Prevention Act of 2007. Senator Hutchison's leadership has been 
essential in developing this legislation, which will encourage programs 
for hepatitis C across the country similar to the programs that have 
been so effective in Texas. Our goal is to expand and improve health 
education, screening, and treatment to deal more effectively with the 
epidemic of hepatitis C.
  Hepatitis C is a life-threatening disease caused by a virus and is 
the most common chronic, blood-borne infection in the United States. An 
estimated 5 million people, almost 2 percent of the population, are now 
infected with the hepatitis C virus. More than half a million of these 
Americans are suffering from chronic infection, and 30,000 more are 
infected every year.
  Those infected come from all walks of life, and their numbers are 
growing fast. People at greatest risk include emergency service 
personnel, veterans, health care workers, and intravenous drug and 
methamphetamine users. Hepatitis C also disproportionately affects 
medically underserved populations, including African Americans, Native 
Americans, persons of Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Island descent, and the 
homeless.
  It is truly a ``silent'' epidemic since the vast majority of these 
individuals are unaware of their infection. Millions are not receiving 
the care that could slow the progression of the disease or even cure 
it. Those who are not aware of their infection are less likely to take 
precautions against spreading the disease to others. Unlike the 
hepatitis A and B viruses, there is no vaccine currently available to 
prevent hepatitis C infection. It is critical to improve the screening 
process, so that everyone infected can be identified, obtain treatment, 
and learn healthier behavior.
  The infection has serious health effects. It can cause liver disease, 
including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is the leading cause of adult 
liver transplants. Chronic liver disease, most of

[[Page S6473]]

which is caused by this virus, is now the most common cause of death 
among persons infected with HIV. In addition to the human costs, the 
disease has massive financial implications. Direct medical costs 
associated with care are alone expected to exceed $1 billion a year by 
2010, and those costs will undoubtedly increase without better 
prevention and treatment programs.
  Greater Federal investment will play a critical role in reversing 
this silent epidemic. Our bill will increase public awareness of the 
dangers of hepatitis C, and make testing widely available. For those 
already infected, it will provide counseling, referrals, and 
vaccination against hepatitis A and B and other infectious diseases. It 
will also support research, including the development of a vaccine 
against hepatitis C. It also supports increased hepatitis C 
surveillance activities by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, and creates hepatitis C coordinators to provide technical 
assistance and training to State public health agencies.
  This bill will have a major impact on the lives of millions of 
Americans who are infected by hepatitis C, and the families and loved 
ones who care for them. I look forward to working closely with my 
colleagues to act quickly to pass this needed legislation.
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