[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NEGLECTED INFECTIONS OF IMPOVERISHED AMERICANS ACT OF 2010

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                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 5986, the Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 
2010.
  H.R. 5986 would require HHS to submit a report to Congress on the 
current state of parasitic diseases that have been overlooked among the 
poorest Americans.
  A 2008 study by the George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine 
Institute identified high prevalence rates of parasitic infections in 
the poorest areas of the United States and along our border regions.
  Scientists estimate that there may be up to 100 million infections of 
the neglected diseases identified in our legislation including Chagas 
Disease, Cysticercosis, Toxocariasis, Toxoplasmosis, and Trichomoniasis 
and other neglected diseases of poverty in the United States.
  These diseases and other neglected diseases of poverty collectively 
infect up to 1.7 billion people around the world, but they 
disproportionately affect minority and impoverished populations across 
the United States, producing effects ranging from asymptomatic 
infection to asthma-like symptoms, seizures, and death.
  This study is especially important because these neglected diseases 
receive less financial support than they deserve. A mere $231,730 of 
research funding was allocated by NIH since 1995.
  This discrepancy in funding is known as the ``10/90 gap''; a mere 10 
percent of global health research funding is directed towards diseases 
affecting 90 percent of the global population.
  The Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2010 would 
provide an up-to-date evaluation of the current dearth of knowledge 
regarding the epidemiology of these diseases and the socioeconomic, 
health and development impact they have on our society.
  I'd like to thank Rep. Hank Johnson and Rep. Gingrey for their 
efforts on this legislation. This will mark the second time we've 
passed this legislation out of the House and I'm hopeful we can swiftly 
move it through the Senate.
  I'd also like to thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Pallone, and Ranking 
Member Barton for their efforts on this bipartisan legislation.

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