[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 30, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING HYDROCEPHALUS AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2020

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, each year in September, 
designated as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, hydrocephalus patients, 
caregivers, and other supporters across the country work together to 
raise awareness of the impact and prevalence of hydrocephalus and urge 
public and medical officials to garner more resources to improve 
treatment protocols and one day find a cure.
  As we all know, COVID-19 and its inherent social distancing 
requirements have limited many public awareness activities, but this 
past month members of the Hydrocephalus Association and the Pediatric 
Hydrocephalus Foundation, and other active supporters, adjusted and 
relied on social media and other venues to share statistics, brochures 
and personal stories to enhance awareness of this condition.
  As the co-chair of the Congressional Pediatric and Adult 
Hydrocephalus Caucus, I call on all my colleagues in the House to take 
the time and learn more about hydrocephalus so we can better assist our 
constituents and their family members who live with challenges of 
hydrocephalus every day.
  Hydrocephalus is colloquially known as ``water on the brain.'' In 
truth, the condition is caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal 
fluid and can be treated only by surgically implanting a drainage shunt 
in the brain. Everyone, from babies to the elderly, can develop 
hydrocephalus. While some cases are congenital, many cases are caused 
by a traumatic brain injury, an infection, or even just develop as part 
of the aging process.
  Hospitals across the country work to serve the over one-million 
adults with hydrocephalus, including the New Neurons Neurosurgery 
Institute (NNNI), located in my district in Spring Lake, New Jersey. 
NNNI's pediatrics division plays a critical role in addressing the 
needs of thousands of children with hydrocephalus in New Jersey and 
across the country. Nationwide, over 400,000 babies a year are born 
with hydrocephalus.
  Through their compassion, skills, and critical expertise dedicated 
medical professionals such as those at NNNI save lives every day.
  United States citizens are not alone in their struggles with this 
condition. Unfortunately, the global situation is even worse, which is 
why I've introduced the Global Brain Health Act, which adds 
hydrocephalus to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This approach 
would ensure more robust foreign assistance for treating those infants 
and children in developing countries with hydrocephalus and other brain 
health-related conditions. It also fosters study in treatment protocols 
that can be shared here at home.
  It's essential for Members of Congress to better understand this 
condition and its profound impact on the people we represent. I urge my 
colleagues to join the bipartisan Congressional Adult and Pediatric 
Hydrocephalus Caucus. As a member you will not only help raise 
awareness but may also play a role in creating public policies that 
lead to better treatments and hopefully a cure.

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