[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4127-H4128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 369) supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 369

       Whereas osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone 
     mass, structural deterioration of bone, and increased 
     susceptibility to fractures, is a public health threat for an 
     estimated 44 million Americans;
       Whereas in the United States, 10 million individuals 
     already have the disease and almost 34 million more are 
     estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased 
     risk for osteoporosis;
       Whereas one in two women and one in four men over age 50 
     will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her or his 
     remaining lifetime;
       Whereas building strong bones during childhood and 
     adolescence can be the best defense against developing 
     osteoporosis later;
       Whereas osteoporosis is often thought of as an older 
     person's disease, but bone health is a concern for any age;
       Whereas substantial risk has been reported in people of all 
     ethnic backgrounds;
       Whereas although osteoporosis often has no symptoms in its 
     early stages, a bone mineral density test can be used to 
     assess fracture risk and to establish the diagnosis and 
     severity of the disease in people at risk before they start 
     fracturing their bones;
       Whereas in 2005 osteoporosis was responsible for an 
     estimated 2 million fractures and $19 billion in costs;
       Whereas the Surgeon General believes that bone health is 
     critically important to the overall health and quality of the 
     life of Americans; that it is in jeopardy and will only get 
     worse if left unchecked; and that great improvements in the 
     bone health status of Americans can be made by applying what 
     is already known about early prevention, assessment, 
     diagnosis, and treatment;
       Whereas optimum bone health and prevention of osteoporosis 
     can be maximized by a balanced diet rich in calcium and 
     vitamin D; weight-bearing exercise; and a healthy lifestyle 
     with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; and
       Whereas May 2008 would be an appropriate month to observe 
     National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and 
     Prevention Month and urges the people of the United States to 
     observe appropriate programs and activities with respect to 
     osteoporosis, including talking with their health care 
     professionals about their bone health.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
will each control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. 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 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 369, supporting the goals 
and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. As 
a cosponsor of this resolution, I'm proud to offer my support for 
designating May 2008 as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention 
Month.
  Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass, structural 
deterioration of bone, and increased susceptibility to fractures. 
Osteoporosis is a leading cause of fractures, which is of special 
concern to the aging as it takes longer for older bones to heal than 
younger Americans. In 2005 alone, osteoporosis was responsible for an 
estimated 2 million fractures.
  While osteoporosis is rightly associated with aging, bone health is a 
concern for people of all ages. In this spirit, House Resolution 369 
urges everyone to observe appropriate activities with regard to 
osteoporosis and to talk with health care professionals about bone 
health.
  I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, for her 
leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor today. I urge my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in support of its 
adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 369, 
recognizing May as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention 
Month.
  Osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person's disease, but 
building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best 
defense. A healthy lifestyle can lower the chances of having 
osteoporosis by maintaining a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin 
D. It is important that Americans monitor their bone health to ensure 
that they are not one of the 1.5 million victims of fractures that 
occur annually.
  Given its influence on the risk of fragility, fracture, osteoporosis 
may significantly affect the quality of life for those who do not know 
about early prevention, assessment, diagnoses, and treatment.
  I would especially like to thank the author of the resolution, Ms. 
Shelley Berkley of Nevada, for raising public awareness of 
osteoporosis. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she 
may consume to the sponsor of this resolution and someone who has been 
a great leader in bringing attention to the disease of osteoporosis, 
the gentlelady from Nevada, Shelley Berkley.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to especially single out Chairwoman 
Schakowsky for her concern and her leadership on this issue.
  I rise today in support of recognizing May as National Osteoporosis 
Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis and low bone density 
affect more than 44 million Americans over the age of 50. Many are 
unaware of their risks for osteoporosis and therefore never take the 
steps that are necessary and relatively easy to prevent this disease.
  Like many Americans, I had no idea that I was at risk for developing 
osteoporosis. When I was running for Congress in 1998, I was first 
diagnosed with this disease. Fortunately, since I received a proper 
diagnosis, within 10 months of receiving the diagnosis and getting the 
proper treatment, I was able to stop my bone density loss and my bones 
actually began to strengthen again.
  Now, it became very apparent to us once I was diagnosed that my two 
grandmothers more than likely had osteoporosis. As they aged, they 
became more bent over and they started breaking bones, but we just 
thought that was part of old age and we never imagined, because in 
those days you didn't get tested for that sort of thing, that they both 
probably suffered from osteoporosis as well.
  Because of my personal experience with osteoporosis, I'm committed to 
ensuring that Americans are aware of the importance of strong bones so 
they can reduce their chances of developing the disease, and that's why 
I have introduced House Resolution 369, the Osteoporosis Awareness and 
Prevention Act. Among the resolution's goals

[[Page H4128]]

is to bring attention to the importance of building strong bones during 
childhood and adolescence. Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass or 
optimum bone strength is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in 
boys, which makes childhood and adolescence the best time to invest in 
your bones.
  This resolution also addresses the importance of eating a balanced 
diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, participating in weight-bearing 
exercises and choosing a lifestyle without smoking or alcohol 
consumption. Each year, as Chairman Schakowsky has already stated, 
there are more than 2 million osteoporotic fractures costing about $19 
billion a year.
  I strongly urge my fellow citizens to visit their doctors, get 
screened for osteoporosis; and I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution and other pieces of legislation that are providing for bone 
density screening. Rather than cutting this important part of 
preventative care, we ought to be enhancing it, and I urge support of 
this resolution and others that affect the health and well-being of our 
fellow Americans.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support from the other 
side of the aisle, and I certainly appreciate the leadership of 
Congresswoman Berkley.
  I, myself, a while ago was diagnosed with a pre-osteoporosis 
condition, and it's rewarding to find that if you take the medication 
and you do weight lifting kind of exercises that you can actually 
reverse the process. Now my screenings indicate that I no longer have 
those symptoms, although I continue to take the medication and do the 
exercises. So people should not see it as totally irreversible or 
untreatable in any way. But most of all, I think the emphasis on 
prevention is so very important.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 369, 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. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________