IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1309 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is need 

for further study of the Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder (FGID) 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 29, 2010 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, and Mr. WELCH) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services 

and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

there is need for further study of the Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder (FGID) Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

(IBS). 

Whereas IBS is a chronic FGID characterized by symptoms 

including pain or discomfort in the abdomen and altered 

bowel habit; 

Whereas abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of 

the bowel produce the symptoms of IBS, and 

dysregulation between the brain, gastrointestinal tract, 

and central nervous system causes the bowel to become 

irritated, or overly sensitive to stimuli; 


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Whereas IBS is common in the general population, affecting 

people of all ages including children and seniors, but a 

social stigma surrounding bowel function persists; 

Whereas IBS is one of the underlying disorders highly correlated with Gulf War Syndrome and IBS remains a serious issue for military veterans who have been deployed to 

combat areas; 

Whereas there is no definitive test for IBS, and diagnosis is 

made via symptom-based criteria, extensive medical history, physical examination, and limited medical testing; 

Whereas IBS symptoms may come and go, persist over a long 

period of time, or change over time, and can range from 

mild and infrequent to severe and chronic, affecting daily 

functioning; 

Whereas people suffering from IBS frequently report gastrointestinal dysfunction including heartburn, nausea, abdominal fullness, and bloating and may also experience 

dyspepsia, feelings of urgency, and feelings of incomplete 

bowel emptying; 

Whereas people suffering from IBS frequently report nongastrointestinal problems including fatigue, muscle pain, 

insomnia, headache, lower back pain, and sexual dysfunction; 

Whereas IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the 

United States, or 10 to 15 percent of the population, and 

an estimated 9 to 23 percent of populations worldwide 

suffer from IBS; 

Whereas two in every three IBS sufferers are female, and 

gastrointestinal tract function appears to be influenced 

by changes in the level of female hormones; 


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Whereas effective treatment for the multiple symptoms of 

IBS is lacking; 

Whereas IBS sufferers frequently use medication therapy, 

stress management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, gastrointestinal-directed hypnosis, biofeedback, relaxation, and 

pain management techniques attempting to control their 

symptoms; 

Whereas IBS sufferers frequently use a variety of medications for IBS symptoms such as non-narcotic and narcotic pain medications, acid reducers, antidiarrheals, and 

laxatives, however, few patients report satisfaction with 

available treatments, highlighting the pressing need to 

find new and more effective treatments for IBS; 

Whereas IBS can control many aspects of a person’s emotional, social and professional life, and quality of life is 

often affected due to activity limitations that can impair 

physical, emotional, economic, educational, and social 

well-being; 

Whereas the annual cost of IBS treatment in the United 

States has been estimated to be between $1.7 billion and 

$10 billion in direct medical, excluding prescription and 

over-the-counter medications, and $20 billion in indirect 

medical costs; 

Whereas IBS frequently takes a toll on the workplace, reflected in work absenteeism, lost productivity, and lost 

opportunities for the individual and society; 

Whereas approximately 20 to 40 percent of all visits to gastroenterologists are due to IBS symptoms, contributing 

substantially to healthcare costs; 

Whereas there is a significant need for further research on 

IBS to improve diagnostic and treatment options for paVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:18 May 03, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1309.IH HR1309

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tients, and reduce the high socioeconomic burden on IBS 

sufferers and on society; 

Whereas the designation of April as National IBS Awareness 

Month has increased public education about IBS and the 

need for increased Federal funding for research on 

FGIDs; and 

Whereas National IBS Awareness Month has been celebrated 

as a health observation during the month of April for the 

last thirteen years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the Director of the National Institutes of 

4 Health (NIH) should take a leadership role in the 

5 search for new treatment options and a cure for IBS 

6 by— 

7 (A) encouraging the National Institute of 

8 Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 

9 (NIDDK) to implement the research rec10 ommendations of the National Commission on 

11 Digestive Diseases; 

12 (B) exploring collaborative research oppor13 tunities between the NIDDK, the Office of Re14 search on Women’s Health, and other NIH In15 stitutes and Centers; 

16 (C) encouraging NIDDK to provide the 

17 necessary funding for continued expansion and 

18 advancement of the IBS research portfolio 


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1 through intramural and extramural research; 

2 and 

3 (D) encouraging NIDDK to provide the 

4 necessary funding for education with respect to 

5 IBS and FGID through the cosponsorship of 

6 workshops and seminars with patient organiza7 tions; 

8 (2) funding should be increased for basic and 

9 clinical biomedical research into IBS and other 

10 FGID through NIH; 

11 (3) the Director of the Food and Drug Admin12 istration (FDA) should take a leadership role in en13 suring that new IBS treatments are developed and 

14 appropriately monitored by— 

15 (A) issuing further guidance to industry on 

16 the development criteria and adverse event 

17 standards for IBS treatments; and 

18 (B) encouraging the participation of pa19 tients groups and considering the views of pa20 tients when discussing standards and protocols 

21 for the development and monitoring of IBS 

22 treatments; and 

23 (4) the Department of Defense and the Depart24 ment of Veterans Affairs should bolster their efforts 


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1 to study IBS and FGIDs, and their association with 

2 war trauma. 

Æ 


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