[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 139 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

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                          HON. PATRICK MEEHAN

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 14, 2014

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for the National Institutes of Health and the vital importance of 
continued investment in medical research. The National Institutes of 
Health is one of the world's leading medical research centers and 
represents our best hope for improving treatments and finding cures for 
diseases that affect millions of Americans.
   Today, more than 30 million Americans suffer from rare or incurable 
diseases. The research conducted by the National Institutes of Health 
is critical for success in the fight against these diseases. 
Particularly troubling among these is Alzheimer's disease, for which 
there are no preventative measures, palliative treatments, or cure. 
While we have seen reduced incidence of some common diseases--like 
heart disease and some cancers--deaths from Alzheimer's disease have 
increased over the last 30 years.
   Currently, Alzheimer's disease affects more than five million 
Americans. Families suffer both financially and emotionally as they 
care for loved ones with the disease, and it places a staggering burden 
on our health care system at a cost of over $200 billion per year. In 
Pennsylvania alone, more than 270,000 seniors suffer from Alzheimer's--
13 percent of all senior citizens in the state of Pennsylvania. These 
numbers only underscore the importance of investing in public health 
research, which might yield valuable treatments and cures.
   Mr. Speaker, continued support for the National Institutes of Health 
is a critical step in meeting the health care challenges currently 
facing our nation. I urge my colleagues to consider the far-reaching 
and long-term benefits of investment in medical research through the 
National Institutes of Health and the positive effect it will have on 
our nation's health and economy.

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