[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION 
                           AMENDMENTS OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2001

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
717, the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Childhood Assistance, Research and 
Education Amendments of 2001. I would also like to thank my colleague 
Mr. Roger Wicker and Chairman Bilirakis for their leadership on this 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most lethal 
childhood genetic disorder worldwide, affecting approximately one in 
every 3,500 boys. DMD is hereditary and is characterized by rapidly 
progressive muscle weakness that almost always results in death by 20 
years of age. Unfortunately, there has been little emphasis placed on 
research to find a cure for this horrible disease. I was pleased to see 
Mr. Wicker take the lead by introducing H.R. 717, and I was proud to 
sign on as a cosponsor. This bill will create research centers within 
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease 
Control (CDC) to increase data collection, epidemiological studies, and 
surveillance activities. I am hopeful that the added emphasis and 
resources this bill provides will speed advances in the treatment of 
this terrible disease. It is an important piece of legislation that 
will give hope to those who suffer from DMD and those who care for 
them. I urge my colleagues to give it their support.

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