[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a number of 
bipartisan public health bills to come before this body. These bills 
are the products of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where my 
colleagues and I are working hard to improve the overall health and 
well being of all Americans.
  I am especially pleased that we will finally pass H.R. 1014, the 
Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women 
Act, introduced by my friend Congresswoman Lois Capps. Close to 40,000 
people in Illinois die annually of heart disease and it is the leading 
cause of death in my state. More people in Illinois die of heart 
disease than from cancer, unintentional injuries, lung disease, 
pneumonia, the flu and diabetes combined. It is imperative that we 
start making connections between diseases and drugs, devices, and 
biologicals. We also need to continue to raise awareness about this 
disease and identify concrete ways to prevent women from becoming 
victims. The HEART Act starts us down that path.
  I also want to highlight and express my support for H.R. 1532, the 
Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act. We know that TB kills 
approximately 2 million people annually and is a common cause of death 
among the roughly 3 million people infected with the AIDS virus who die 
each year. Although the United States has been able to reduce the 
incidence of the disease, we still must take an active role in 
eradicating TB nationally and internationally through increased funding 
for research, public education and treatment programs.
  Similarly, it is time that we passed H.R. 758, the Breast Cancer and 
Environmental Research Act. I have cosponsored this critical 
legislation since coming to Congress in 1999, and I am thrilled to 
finally see it considered on the floor. Although we've made great 
strides in the areas of breast cancer research, treatment and outcomes, 
there are still over 43,000 women who die each year from the disease.
  Finally, after debating this critical issue for many years, we are on 
the verge of finally enacting comprehensive mental health parity 
legislation. I have not held a health care meeting in my district 
without the issue of access to mental health care being brought up by 
constituents who have faced discrimination or difficulty obtaining 
affordable care. This was a top priority of Paul Wellstone, and I want 
to pay tribute to him today. Paul Wellstone, Paul and Sheila, his wife, 
were friends of mine. They were both leaders in ending discrimination 
and in making sure that every person in our nation has access to 
affordable, comprehensive health care--including comprehensive mental 
health and substance abuse services. I'm proud that we are continuing 
Senator Wellstone's legacy by passing a bill that guarantees equal 
access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. I also want to 
thank Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad for their 
persistence and passion in passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and 
Addiction Equity Act.
  It is hard to overstate the importance of increasing public health 
resources for research, public education and treatment. Our public 
health workforce is being stretched to its breaking point--and multiple 
natural disasters have only exacerbated the problem. I hope that we 
will continue our efforts to improve public health and meet this 
growing demand in the next Congress.
  I urge all of my colleagues to strongly support these bills.

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