National Pediatric Research Network Act of 2012

Floor Speech

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Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6163, the National Pediatric Research Network Act, seeks to address important unmet needs in pediatric health.

Pediatric research is so important to the health of our children, and it is essential to finding answers for unmet health needs. According to the National Institutes for Health, there are between 6,000 and 7,000 diseases considered rare that affect 25 to 30 million people. Most of the approximately 7,000 rare diseases are pediatric diseases and often genetic. Unfortunately, the doctors do not have sufficient therapies to treat them.

This bill seeks to alleviate that problem by establishing pediatric research networks and consortia. They will help by coordinating research efforts among participating institutions, concentrating that effort on the most pressing needs and enlisting the help of well-trained researchers.

Through my association with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, I'm aware that there are too many diseases that children and their families face that do not have easy answers, and few adequate treatments. This bill will strengthen basic and clinical research and bring us closer to finding new treatments and cures.

Mr. Speaker, this bill has strong bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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