IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 189

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding inflammatory bowel disease.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 20, 2001

Mrs. KELLY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding inflammatory

bowel disease.

Whereas Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively

known as inflammatory bowel disease) are chronic disorders of the intestinal tract that cause intense pain and

suffering and represent the leading cause of morbidity

from digestive illness;

Whereas the cause of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are unknown and there is no cure;

Whereas an estimated 1 million people in the United States

suffer inflammatory bowel disease;

Whereas inflammatory bowel disease affects men and women

equally, tends to run in families, and predominately afflicts persons under the age of 30 although it can strike

at any age;
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Whereas inflammatory bowel disease patients often require

intensive steroid treatments or invasive surgery to control

their symptoms;

Whereas in 1990, the total annual medical costs for Crohn’s

disease patients was estimated at $1–$1.2 billion;

Whereas in 1990, the total annual medical cost for ulcerative

colitis patients was estimated at $400–$600 million;

Whereas inflammatory bowel disease patients are at high risk

for developing colorectal cancer;

Whereas research recently identified the first gene for

Crohn’s disease; and

Whereas the Congress as an institution, and Members of

Congress as individuals, are in unique positions to help

raise public awareness about the need for increased funding for research, epidemiology, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) all Americans should take an active role in

4 the fight against inflammatory bowel disease by all

5 means available to them, including the investigation

6 of family histories;

7 (2) the role played by national organizations

8 and health care providers in promoting awareness of

9 inflammatory bowel disease and supporting research

10 should be applauded;

11 (3) the Federal Government has a responsibility

12 to—
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1 (A) endeavor to raise awareness about in2 flammatory bowel disease, and the high risk

3 that patients have for developing colorectal can4 cer;

5 (B) continue to consider ways to improve

6 the quality of health care services for inflam7 matory bowel disease patients, including rec8 ognition of the need for unimpeded access to a

9 gastroenterologist, and coverage of parenteral

10 and enteral nutrition; and

11 (C) assess the challenges that inflam12 matory bowel disease patients frequently en13 counter when applying for Social Security dis14 ability benefits, and take appropriate action to

15 address these barriers;

16 (4) the Director of the National Institute of Di17 abetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, in col18 laboration with other appropriate institutes of the

19 National Institutes of Health, should continue to

20 take a leadership role in the fight against inflam21 matory bowel disease through the expansion of ge22 netic, environmental, and clinical research; and

23 (5) the Centers for Disease Control and Preven24 tion should give priority consideration to the estab25 lishment of a national inflammatory bowel disease
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1 epidemiology program for the purpose of deter2 mining the true prevalence and demographic charac3 teristics of the disease.

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