On September 5, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a number of health-related resolutions.
The first resolution (H. Con. Res. 189) recognizes the need to raise awareness and increase research funding for inflammatory bowel disease. Prior to approving the resolution by voice vote, the committee adopted, by voice vote, a substitute amendment making technical changes.
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY) and expresses the sense of Congress that the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health should continue to take a leadership role in research efforts. Additionally, the resolution calls on all Americans to take an active role in fighting the disease and commends national organizations, health care providers, and public education campaigns for their roles in increasing awareness of the disease. According to the resolution, inflammatory bowel disease strikes men and women equally, runs in families, and primarily afflicts individuals under the age of 30.
Another resolution (H. Con. Res. 320), sponsored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), expresses the sense of Congress that awareness of, and research on, scleroderma be promoted. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that attacks internal organs. Stating that 80 percent of the people suffering from scleroderma are women aged 25 to 55 and that the disease is the fifth leading cause of death among all autoimmune diseases for women, the resolution urges the National Institutes of Health to work more closely with private organizations and researchers to find a cure.
The resolution also states that the federal government has a responsibility to promote awareness regarding the disease and urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give priority consideration to the establishment of a national epidemiological study to better track the incidence of scleroderma. The resolution was approved by voice vote after the committee approved, by voice vote, a substitute amendment making technical changes.
Another resolution (H. Con. Res. 291), sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and approved by unanimous consent, expresses the sense of Congress with respect to endometriosis. The resolution “strongly supports efforts to raise public awareness of endometriosis throughout the medical and lay communities” and “recognizes the need for better support of patients with endometriosis, the need for physicians to better understand the disease, the need for more effective treatments, and ultimately, the need for a cure.” Endometriosis is a painful gynecological disease where a tissue similar to that found inside the uterus grows outside the uterus. The disease can result in infertility.
Lastly, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 435), sponsored by Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), expresses the sense of Congress that the therapeutic technique known as rebirthing is a dangerous practice and should be prohibited. “Rebirthing” is a form of “attachment therapy” intended to create new bonds between adopted children and their adoptive parents; however, the technique is not recognized by the American Psychological Association. The technique involves holding the children in forced restraints to enact the pains of birth and caused the asphyxiation death of a 10-year-old girl in 2000. The resolution was approved by unanimous consent.
