Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions
Floor Speech
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - May 23, 2007)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
S. 1459. A bill to strengthen the Nation's research efforts to identify the causes and cure of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, expand psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection, study access to and quality of care for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2007. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans are affected by psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory, painful, disfiguring and disabling disease for which there are limited treatments and no cure. In my State of New Jersey, the National Psoriasis Foundation estimates that 219,000 people have psoriasis.
Ten to thirty percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in and around the joints. Moreover, of further concern is that people with psoriasis are at elevated risk for a myriad other comorbidities, including but not limited to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health conditions. Despite the serious adverse effects that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have on individuals, families and society, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are underrecognized and underfunded by our Nation's research institutions and public health agencies. At the historical and current rate of psoriasis funding, NIH funding is not keeping pace with research needs. For that reason, I am introducing legislation to boost psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research, improve and expand psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection, increase access to care and treatment for these diseases, and help debunk the myths associated with psoriasis.
I know that this legislation will go a long way in achieving these important public policy goals. The bill calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services, HHS, to convene a summit of researchers, public health professionals, representatives of patient advocacy organizations and policymakers to review current efforts in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research, treatment, and quality-of-life being conducted by Federal agencies whose work involves psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis related comorbidities. The legislation also calls on the Secretary of HHS to commission a study from the Institutes of Medicine, IOM, to evaluate and make recommendations to address health insurance and prescription drug coverage as they relate to medications and treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Lastly, the bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a patient registry to collect much-needed longitudinal data on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis so we can begin to understand the long-term impact of these conditions and evaluate the effects of various therapies.
I would like to thank the National Psoriasis Foundation for all of its efforts and leadership over the last four decades and am grateful to the Foundation and its members and staff for their ongoing commitment to improving quality of life for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research Cure, and Care Act.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source