Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions - S. 2922

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. CORNYN:

S. 2922. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the activities of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with respect to research on pulmonary hypertension; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation designed to enhance Federal research on an emerging chronic disease in the U.S. known as pulmonary hypertension. PH is a serious and often fatal condition where the blood pressure in the lungs rises to dangerously high levels. In PH patients, the walls of the arteries that take blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs thicken and constrict. As a result, the right side of the heart has to pump harder to move blood into the lungs, causing it to enlarge and ultimately fail.

PH can occur without a known cause or be secondary to other conditions such as; collagen vascular diseases, i.e., scleroderma and lupus, blood clots, HIV, sickle cell, and liver disease. PH does not discriminate based on race, gender or age. Patients develop symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and fainting. Unfortunately, these symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed, leaving patients with the false impression that they have a minor pulmonary or cardiovascular condition. By the time many patients receive an accurate diagnosis, the disease has progressed to a late stage, making it impossible to receive a necessary heart or lung transplant.

With this legislation, I am proud to join the Pulmonary Hypertension Association in the fight against this deadly illness. PHA is the Nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to finding a cure for PH and improving the quality of life for PH patients and their families. I would particularly like to recognize the contributions of four PHA members from my home State of Texas who have contributed so much to this worthy cause-Leo and Bobbie Fields, and Jack Stibbs and his daughter Emily. Their commitment to improving the quality of life for PH patients and pursuing a cure for this disease is truly inspiring. I would also like to recognize our colleague Congressman KEVIN BRADY for his leadership in introducing the "PH Research Act" in the other body.

A few years ago the scientifc community discovered the first gene associated with pulmonary hypertension. This was a landmark discovery in the battle to unravel the mystery surrounding this disease. The "PH Research Act" seeks to capitalize on this exciting advancement by establishing "Centers of Excellence" on pulmonary hypertension through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health. These Centers would focus on: 1. basic and clinical research into the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of PH: 2. the training of new investigators in PH research; 3. continuing education for health care professionals regarding PH with a focus on early diagnosis and 4. the dissemination of information regarding the disease to the general public.

This is an important bill that has the potential to help tens of thousands of Americans and their families, who are struggling with this devastating disease. I look forward to working with the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to advance the "PH Research Act."