[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today, May 19, marks the second annual World 
Hepatitis Day, when the need for greater public awareness towards 
prevention and treatment of this silent killer is recognized 
internationally.
  Hepatitis is a prime example of an issue that must be addressed now, 
as Congress and the administration work together to create a 
sustainable health care system for future generations.
  Of those infected with viral hepatitis C, more than three-quarters 
are unaware of their infection, making the long-term consequences of 
HCV infection, including cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, a 
greater, greater danger.
  A study about HCV released just yesterday by Milliman Incorporated, 
one of the Nation's most respected firms, tells a troubling story. They 
are saying that over the next 20 years, medical costs for patients with 
HCV infections are expected to increase from $30 billion in 2009 to 
over $85 billion in 2024.
  Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of primary liver cancer, 
one of the fastest growing cancers, which significantly impacts 6 
million Americans and has a 5-year survival rate. The minority 
population will be disproportionately affected. Hepatitis C is twice as 
common among African Americans as among whites.
  As a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I will 
continue to support increased funding towards public education, early 
detection, testing and counseling for patients. We cannot afford to be 
silent about this disease any longer. We must speak out and take 
action. That is what we need to do to curtail this very, very serious 
problem.

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