[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HYDROCEPHALUS AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 2022

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, patients, caregivers, and 
other advocates across the country come together every September to 
raise awareness of this condition. As Co-chair--with Representative 
Lloyd Doggett--of the Congressional Pediatric and Adult Hydrocephalus 
Caucus I want to express my support for Hydrocephalus Awareness Month 
and urge my colleagues to join our caucus and cosponsor H. Res. 20, the 
National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month Resolution.
  The mission of our caucus is to raise awareness and inspire members 
of Congress to consider policy options that assist the hydrocephalus 
community. Hydrocephalus affects over one million Americans--infants, 
children, adults, and especially our seniors--with a prevalence in our 
elderly (175/100,000) equal to more than twice as that for infants and 
children (88/100,000).
  We need members of Congress and their staff to understand that anyone 
can acquire hydrocephalus at any time.
  Hydrocephalus--a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain--is 
colloquially known as ``water on the brain.'' Everyone, from babies to 
the elderly, can develop it. While some cases are congenital, it can 
also be caused by a traumatic brain injury, an infection, or even just 
develop as part of the aging process.
  Brain surgery is the only treatment--many patients endure dozens of 
surgeries in their lifetime. There is no cure--yet--but Congress can 
play a role in moving the ball forward.
  In addition to impacting people across the country, I've seen the 
success of treating people faced with hydrocephalus in my own district. 
The pediatric division of New Neurons Neurosurgery Institute (NNNI) in 
New Jersey, for example, plays a critical role in addressing the needs 
of thousands of children with hydrocephalus in New Jersey and around 
the country. With the expertise in the kinds of brain surgeries 
essential for survival, dedicated medical professionals such as Dr. 
Lawrence Daniels and his colleagues at NNNI save lives every day.
  NNNI with Carly Weisman, who organizes the annual Jersey Shore WALK 
to End Hydrocephalus, are advocating and fighting hard in my district 
to bring greater awareness and help find a cure.
  Nationwide, over 400,000 babies a year are born with hydrocephalus. 
Yet, the United States is not alone in this struggle--it is a worldwide 
problem--which is why I have introduced the Global Brain Health Act. 
This Act authorizes hydrocephalus funding from the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961. This approach would ensure more robust foreign assistance 
for treating people in developing countries with hydrocephalus and 
other brain health-related conditions.
  It is essential for members of Congress to better understand this 
condition and its profound impact on the people we represent, and the 
hydrocephalus caucus is a great way to help achieve that goal.
  I urge my colleagues to mark Hydrocephalus Awareness Month by joining 
the bipartisan Congressional Adult and Pediatric Hydrocephalus Caucus 
and by cosponsoring H. Res. 20. 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 possibly even a cure.

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