[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2508-H2510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WORLD GLAUCOMA DAY

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 981) recognizing March 6, 2008, as the first-ever 
World Glaucoma Day, established to increase awareness of glaucoma, 
which is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the 
United States and worldwide, as amended.
  The Clerk read the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 981

       Whereas glaucoma is a progressive disease of the optic 
     nerve, robbing individuals of both peripheral and central 
     vision;
       Whereas glaucoma affects all age groups, including infants, 
     children, and the elderly;
       Whereas glaucoma disproportionately affects underserved 
     minority populations, with African-Americans having a three 
     times greater risk of developing this disease than White 
     Americans, and it is the leading cause of irreversible vision 
     loss in African-Americans and Hispanics;
       Whereas glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable 
     vision loss in the United States, afflicting 2,200,000 
     Americans, and it is the leading cause of permanent blindness 
     worldwide, afflicting 67,000,000 persons;
       Whereas awareness is absolutely crucial, as glaucoma often 
     has no symptoms until vision loss occurs, and it is estimated 
     that, in the United States, more than half of the individuals 
     with glaucoma are unaware that they have it and, in 
     developing countries, 90 percent of individuals with glaucoma 
     are unaware that they have it;
       Whereas with early diagnosis and ongoing treatment, 90 
     percent of the cases where blindness occurs can be avoided 
     and awareness is crucial, so that individuals with known risk 
     factors for glaucoma and those over the age of 40 should have 
     regular, comprehensive eye examinations that include careful 
     evaluation of the optic nerve and measurement of eye 
     pressure;
       Whereas the National Eye Institute (``NEI'') within the 
     National Institutes of Health (``NIH'') has been a worldwide 
     leader in glaucoma research, elucidating the genetic basis of 
     different types of the disease (including risk factors) and 
     the potential for gene therapy approaches, identifying 
     factors that can protect the optic nerve from damage, 
     evaluating the potential for optic nerve cell regeneration, 
     and better understanding how elevated intraocular pressure 
     leads to optic nerve damage and how pressure-reducing drugs 
     ultimately developed from NEI-led research can reduce 
     glaucoma progression;
       Whereas it is the role of the NEI to support research to 
     prevent, diagnose, and cure glaucoma-related vision 
     impairment and blindness, which disproportionately affects 
     underserved minority populations; and
       Whereas the public needs to know the insidious nature of 
     glaucoma, that there are means for detecting and treating it 
     to save sight, and the importance of compliance associated 
     with those treatments, and the first-ever World Glaucoma Day 
     is an observance planned to increase global awareness in that 
     regard: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the first-ever World Glaucoma Day;
       (2) supports the efforts of the National Eye Institute 
     within the National Institutes of Health to continue research 
     on the causes of glaucoma, including genetic and 
     environmental risk factors, glaucoma prevention, the 
     relationships between damage to the optic nerve and loss of 
     vision, societal and individual impacts, diagnostics, and 
     treatment to save and potentially restore sight; and
       (3) congratulates the American Glaucoma Society for its 
     efforts to expand awareness of the prevalence and economic 
     burden of glaucoma.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 981, recognizing March 6, 2008, as 
the first-ever World Glaucoma Day. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I 
am proud to speak out in favor of greater support for glaucoma 
awareness and prevention.
  Glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable vision loss in 
the United States and the leading cause of permanent blindness 
worldwide. It afflicts 67 million people by some estimates. While 
glaucoma affects all age groups, it is of special concern to me because 
it disproportionately affects underserved minority populations, 
particularly African Americans over age 40 and Mexican Americans over 
60.
  The resolution before us supports the observance of World Glaucoma 
Day, which would raise awareness about glaucoma on a global scale. 
Awareness is especially important since nearly 90 percent of 
individuals with glaucoma are unaware that they have it. Moreover, 
regular comprehensive eye exams can lead to early diagnosis and 
treatment that can lessen the impact of this devastating disease.
  The resolution also supports the efforts of the National Eye 
Institute and its commitment to continue research on the causes of 
glaucoma. By learning more about the causes of this insidious disease, 
we may one day find a cure.
  The resolution also congratulates the American Glaucoma Society for 
its efforts to raise awareness about the prevalence of the disease. The 
American Glaucoma Society helps to preserve vision by supporting 
glaucoma specialists and scientists through the advancement of 
education and research.

[[Page H2509]]

  I also wish to thank the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus 
Foundation, a nonprofit foundation funded in part by the Centers For 
Disease Control and Prevention, for its outstanding contributions in 
providing free glaucoma screening for 200,000 people from 2001 to date, 
while administering the programs that include follow-up and treatment 
services across the country. Further, I must point out that I am a 
cosponsor of H.R. 3005, the Glaucoma Screening Act of 2007. This 
measure was introduced by Representatives Serrano and Boozman and Mr. 
Menendez of the Senate. I urge my colleagues on the House Energy and 
Commerce Committee to hold a hearing on this bill soon.
  Finally, I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, 
for her leadership on H. Res. 981, which recognizes March 6, 2008, as 
the first-ever World Glaucoma Day. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
support of its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Sessions) will control the time of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Barton).
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to start by thanking my colleague Congresswoman Baldwin 
for introducing this legislation along with 100-plus additional Members 
who have signed on as cosponsors to this important resolution. I would 
also like to praise the extensive grassroots effort made by numerous 
eye disease and prevention groups to ensure that this bill passes today 
in the House of Representatives.
  It is an honor for me to speak in favor of this legislation today. 
This bill recognizes March 6, 2008, as the first-ever World Glaucoma 
Day. This day was established to increase awareness of glaucoma, which 
is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the United 
States and worldwide. I can speak from personal experience regarding 
the importance of eye health and getting the appropriate screenings 
throughout a person's lifetime.
  Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of 
the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual 
information to the brain. This disease robs individuals of both 
peripheral and central vision. If left untreated, many types of 
glaucoma progress towards gradually worsening visual damage and could 
and may lead to blindness. Once incurred, visual damage is 
irreversible.
  It is estimated that glaucoma affects 2.2 million Americans and 67 
million people worldwide, that 4.5 million people globally are blind 
due to glaucoma, and that number will rise to 11.2 million by 2020.
  There are several types of glaucoma. Some may occur as a complication 
of other visual disorders, but the vast majority occurs without any 
known cause. Glaucoma affects all age groups, including infants and 
children. In most cases, however, glaucoma appears later in life, and 
its frequency increases with age.
  There is no cure for glaucoma yet, and vision loss is irreversible. 
Therefore, early detection is essential to limiting visual impairment 
and preventing the progression towards severe visual handicap or 
blindness. With early diagnosis and treatment, 90 percent of cases 
where blindness occurs can be avoided.
  My colleague from New York just said this important fact: This is a 
preventable disease. Individuals with numerous factors and those over 
the age of 40 should have a regular comprehensive eye exam. World 
Glaucoma Day is one of the many efforts to increase awareness of the 
importance of eye health. There are several ways to detect and treat 
glaucoma to save sight, and it is essential that the message reaches 
every single person.
  I'm honored to support this legislation and to work for its passage. 
But today, Mr. Speaker, we have a message that is there for all 
Americans and the world to hear, and that is glaucoma is preventable. 
Awareness is something we should all have and be mindful that we can 
work towards a cure in the very near future.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This is very important legislation to me. In the early part of my 
life, I worked for the Industrial Home for the Blind, which is now 
referred to as the Helen Keller Foundation. I had the opportunity to 
see and to talk to people, in many instances who were blind because 
they did not get the attention at an early stage and as a result they 
lost their vision.
  So I think what we are doing here today is so important, that we pass 
this legislation which encourages people to seek treatment, encourages 
people to get eye exams. I think that is the thing we need to do. 
Because as my colleague indicated, early detection sometimes can 
prevent this.
  On that note, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I too join my colleague from New York in 
talking about not only the importance of what we are doing here today, 
but also to thank the many groups from around the country that have 
taken time to touch base with their Member of Congress about the 
importance of not only treatments of glaucoma, but the awareness of 
glaucoma.
  Today, we are on the floor for the first ever opportunity to say we 
are going to highlight this important effort and battle that we are 
doing, and we are going to make progress on that. It really comes about 
through awareness, where people who perhaps are hearing about glaucoma 
for the first time and understanding about the pressure that is put on 
the eye that can cause this blindness, but is preventable. I hope that 
the time that we spend today will find itself in messages to thousands 
of people who recognize that their time to come to Washington, DC to 
tell their story about this, really did matter, and paid off.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to notify the gentleman that I 
do not have any additional speakers, and I will find out if he does. 
But I would encourage him to run through his speakers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. I do not have any additional speakers. I think we have the 
right to close.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
New York, Mr. Towns, for taking the time to come in a little bit early 
today to work on behalf of the gentlewoman, Congresswoman Baldwin, on 
this important effort. She and I joined together on this effort. We 
joined together and had the support from some 100 other Members of 
Congress, who have heard the message, who believe that it is important 
that we have this resolution on the floor today. We are proud that we 
have done this. It is a meaningful effort that this entire House of 
Representatives do this. I will be very proud of what the House does 
today to pass the bill.
  I thank the Speaker for allowing this bill to come to the floor 
today.
  With that, I yield back my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague for the 
outstanding work that he has done. I also would like to thank 
Congresswoman Baldwin for her outstanding work as well, who has been 
detained and not able to get here. But she has worked real hard on this 
because she understands how important it is in terms of early 
detection.
  Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 981, which recognizes March 6, 2008, as the first-ever World 
Glaucoma Day and I wish to thank my colleague, Mr. Sessions, for 
joining me in introducing this resolution.
  Glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable vision loss in 
the United States. It is a group of diseases that damages the optic 
nerve and leads to vision loss. An estimated 2.2 million Americans have 
glaucoma. An additional 2 million have glaucoma, but do not know it, as 
glaucoma often has no symptoms until vision loss occurs.
  If left untreated, glaucoma leads to blindness, which has occurred in 
about 120,000 Americans. Worldwide, nearly 70 million people are 
affected by the disease.
  Every American over the age of 60 is at risk of developing glaucoma, 
which also disproportionately affects minority populations. African 
Americans have a three times greater risk of developing this disease 
than white Americans, and it is the leading cause of irreversible 
vision loss in African Americans and Hispanics.

[[Page H2510]]

  With early diagnosis and ongoing treatment, however, 90 percent of 
the cases where blindness occurs can be avoided. Awareness is crucial, 
so that individuals with known risk factors for glaucoma and those over 
the age of 40 should have regular, comprehensive eye examinations that 
include careful evaluation of the optic nerve and measurement of eye 
pressure.
  So Mr. Speaker, I am happy today that the House of Representatives is 
considering this resolution, which seeks to expand global awareness 
about the incidence and burden of glaucoma.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize the American 
Glaucoma Society for its efforts to expand awareness of the prevalence 
and economic burden of glaucoma. Their advocacy surrounding the first-
ever World Glaucoma Day has been truly valuable in promoting eye 
health.
  Mr. TOWNS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 981, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________