[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5718]
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 
Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy) for 2 minutes.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I thank you.
  Today is World Hepatitis Day. This has special meaning for me because 
I'm a liver doctor, and I've spent 20 years treating hepatitis 
patients. Three to four million Americans have hepatitis, and about 
two-thirds of those folks are baby boomers. Maybe it has special 
meaning for me because I'm a baby boomer, but it also includes firemen, 
those affected at birth, Vietnam veterans, and many others who are 
affected by this disease. Indeed, almost every person, almost every 
family is touched by someone who has liver diseases.
  Every year in this country, thousands die from liver disease. We 
spend, roughly, $30 billion a year treating liver disease, and many 
more are frightened, even though they shouldn't be, because they know 
the terrible statistics I just cited. Hepatitis doesn't affect people 
at the end of life, but rather, it can affect people in the primes of 
their lives. When it does so, it potentially leaves behind orphans, 
widows and widowers.
  The best of the American spirit is compassion. Public policy should 
reflect this compassion, and in this case, it will be for our friends, 
our families and, in my case, my patients touched by hepatitis. Today, 
on World Hepatitis Day, I ask that we, through public policy, pledge 
our compassion to those so affected.

                          ____________________