In Support of Public Health Legislation

Floor Speech

IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 25, 2008)

SPEECH OF
HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a number of bipartisan public health bills to come before this body. These bills are the products of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where my colleagues and I are working hard to improve the overall health and well being of all Americans.

* I am especially pleased that we will finally pass H.R. 1014, the Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act, introduced by my friend Congresswoman LOIS CAPPS. Close to 40,000 people in Illinois die annually of heart disease and it is the leading cause of death in my state. More people in Illinois die of heart disease than from cancer, unintentional injuries, lung disease, pneumonia, the flu and diabetes combined. It is imperative that we start making connections between diseases and drugs, devices, and biologicals. We also need to continue to raise awareness about this disease and identify concrete ways to prevent women from becoming victims. The HEART Act starts us down that path.

* I also want to highlight and express my support for H.R. 1532, the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act. We know that TB kills approximately 2 million people annually and is a common cause of death among the roughly 3 million people infected with the AIDS virus who die each year. Although the United States has been able to reduce the incidence of the disease, we still must take an active role in eradicating TB nationally and internationally through increased funding for research, public education and treatment programs.

* Similarly, it is time that we passed H.R. 758, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. I have cosponsored this critical legislation since coming to Congress in 1999, and I am thrilled to finally see it considered on the floor. Although we've made great strides in the areas of breast cancer research, treatment and outcomes, there are still over 43,000 women who die each year from the disease.

* Finally, after debating this critical issue for many years, we are on the verge of finally enacting comprehensive mental health parity legislation. I have not held a health care meeting in my district without the issue of access to mental health care being brought up by constituents who have faced discrimination or difficulty obtaining affordable care. This was a top priority of Paul Wellstone, and I want to pay tribute to him today. Paul Wellstone, Paul and Sheila, his wife, were friends of mine. They were both leaders in ending discrimination and in making sure that every person in our nation has access to affordable, comprehensive health care--including comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services. I'm proud that we are continuing Senator Wellstone's legacy by passing a bill that guarantees equal access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. I also want to thank Representatives PATRICK KENNEDY and JIM RAMSTAD for their persistence and passion in passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act.

* It is hard to overstate the importance of increasing public health resources for research, public education and treatment. Our public health workforce is being stretched to its breaking point--and multiple natural disasters have only exacerbated the problem. I hope that we will continue our efforts to improve public health and meet this growing demand in the next Congress.

* I urge all of my colleagues to strongly support these bills.

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