[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RESEARCH REVIEW ACT OF 2004

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the 
immediate consideration of H.R. 5213.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 5213) to expand research information regarding 
     multidisciplinary research projects and epidemiological 
     studies.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, last month we lost a great American, 
Christopher Reeve. Since a riding accident left him paralyzed from the 
neck down, Christopher Reeve has been an inspiration to all Americans, 
particularly to those living with paralysis as a result of spinal cord 
injury.
  In the years following his accident, Christopher Reeve made 
tremendous progress. He regained sensation and movement in some parts 
of his body and was able to breathe for periods of time without a 
ventilator. Watching Christopher Reeve achieve these milestones gave 
hope to individuals with spinal cord injuries, their families, 
researchers and just about everyone.
  We lost Christopher Reeve, but we cannot lose sight of his dream for 
a cure. We must do everything we can to ensure that Federal researchers 
have the tools they need to further advance paralysis research, and to 
ultimately find a cure.
  I am pleased that today we are honoring the legacy of Christopher 
Reeve by passing the Research Review Act. This legislation includes a 
provision that will advance the goals of the Christopher Reeve 
Paralysis Act.
  There is no stronger voice in the Senate for individuals with 
disabilities than Senator Tom Harkin. And for the last several years, 
Senator Harkin has worked with the Christopher Reeve Paralysis 
Foundation to pass legislation that would further advance the science 
needed to promote spinal regeneration and build quality-of-life 
programs for individuals with paralysis and other mobility impairments.
  The Research Review Act supports the intent of the Christopher Reeve 
Paralysis Act by directing the National Institutes of Health to draft a 
report on ways they have encouraged the use of multi-disciplinary 
research teams to advance treatments, develop new therapies, and 
collaborate on clinical trials with respect to spinal cord injury and 
paralysis research.
  The Research Review Act is an important step in the right direction, 
but we must do everything we can to pass and fund the Christopher Reeve 
Paralysis Act during the next session of Congress.
  The Research Review Act also includes important provisions related to 
inflammatory bowel disease. I am the proud sponsor of legislation in 
the Senate known as the ``IBD Act'' which is designed to improve the 
quality of life for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. 
I am pleased that 36 Members of the Senate, including Senator Cochran, 
have cosponsored this bipartisan legislation.
  Inflammatory bowel disease, which includes both Crohn's disease and 
ulcerative colitis, is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract 
which afflicts approximately 1 million Americans, 100,000 or 10 percent 
of whom are children under the age of 18. IBD can cause severe 
abdominal pain, fever, and intestinal bleeding. Complications related 
to the disease include: Arthritis, osteoporosis, anemia, liver disease, 
and colon cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease represents a major cause 
of morbidity from digestive illness, and although it is not fatal, IBD 
can be devastating.
  I am pleased that the Research Review Act contains three important 
provisions related to inflammatory bowel disease. The first provision 
directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to report to the 
Congress on the status of its inflammatory bowel disease epidemiology 
study. This much needed study is being conducted by CDC through 
financial support provided by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of 
America (CCFA). Over the past 2 years, CCFA has provided the CDC with 
$750,000 to establish the epidemiology project. I am pleased that the 
Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations 
Subcommittee has provided $800,000 for Fiscal Year 2005 to continue 
this important study.
  The second provision of interest to the IBD community directs the 
Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the coverage 
standards of Medicare/Medicaid for the therapies that IBD patients need 
to manage their disease. If there are gaps in coverage that negatively 
impact the health and quality of life of IBD patients on Medicare or 
Medicaid, we need to know about them, and take steps to address the 
problem.
  The bill provides for a GAO study on the challenges that IBD patients 
encounter when applying for Social Security Disability. This study will 
include recommendations for improving the application process for IBD 
patients. This is critical to our effort to ensure that every patient 
who deserves disability coverage, receives it.
  I am pleased to inform my colleagues that this is the first piece of 
authorizing legislation to pass the United States Congress that 
addresses inflammatory bowel disease. I would like to extend my 
appreciation to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America for their 
tremendous advocacy in support of this bill and the ``IBD Act'' in the 
108th Congress. Over the past 2 years, tens of thousands of IBD 
patients have made their voice heard on Capitol Hill. I am pleased that 
a disease that for so long has been in the shadows of our society is 
starting to receive much needed attention and support. We would not be 
here today if it wasn't for the commitment of these patients and their 
family members.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 5213) was read the third time and passed.

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