[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 984. 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.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join Senator Kennedy 
and Senator Bond in introducing the Arthritis Prevention, Control and 
Cure Act, which makes a national commitment to find new ways to prevent 
and treat arthritis, and care for the patients that suffer from it.
  Many people do not know that arthritis is the leading cause of 
disability in the U.S. As many as 46 million Americans, including 
almost 300,000 children, live every day with the pain of arthritis. Not 
only does this disease affect the health and quality of life of 
millions of Americans, arthritis also costs our Nation's economy an 
estimated $128 billion annually in visits to physicians, surgeries and 
missed work days.
  By the year 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans will suffer from 
the debilitating pain and limited mobility caused by arthritis. It is 
past time that we came together to find a cure for arthritis and invest 
in the scientific research needed to conquer this disease.
  Specifically, the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act would 
authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, HHS, to implement 
a National Arthritis Action Plan that includes grants for the 
coordination of research and training, education and outreach, and 
grants to States and Indian tribes to support comprehensive arthritis 
control and prevention programs.
  I am especially pleased that this legislation would also increase 
support for efforts to address juvenile arthritis. While there are 
almost 300,000 children suffering from pediatric arthritis in the U.S., 
there are only 200 pediatric rheumatologists in the country to treat 
them. There are 9 States that do not have even one doctor trained 
specifically to treat these children.
  This legislation will provide loan repayment to physicians who agree 
to practice pediatric rheumatology in underserved areas--so children do 
not have to travel to another state just to see a doctor.
  The bill would also allow the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention to coordinate and expand programs related to juvenile 
arthritis, collect data and develop a National Juvenile Arthritis 
Patient Registry.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me, Senator Bond and Senator 
Kennedy, as well as the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of 
Rheumatology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics in support of the 
Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, to take a critical step 
forward in helping millions of Americans living with this devastating 
disease.
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