IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 610
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the 
level of funding provided to the National Institutes of Health for carrying 
out the Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2004
Mr. LYNCH (for himself and Mr. TIAHRT) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with 
respect to the level of funding provided to the National 
Institutes of Health for carrying out the Autoimmune 
Diseases Research Plan.
Whereas the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established 
the Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee 
(ADCC), upon Congress’ recommendation, to foster co-
ordination and collaboration on autoimmune disease re-
search; 
Whereas, through amendments made by the Children’s 
Health Act of 2000, the Congress authorized appropria-
tions for NIH’s preparation of a comprehensive Auto-
immune Diseases Research Plan (ADRP);
•HRES 610 IH 
Whereas the ADRP provides an integrated plan to elucidate 
the common underlying mechanisms of autoimmune dis-
ease and to exploit this knowledge for the development of 
better treatments and eventual cures; 
Whereas NIH submitted the ADRP to Congress in January 
2003, after review and approval by the NIH Director and 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services; 
Whereas the ADRP provides for, as appropriate (1) research 
to determine the reasons underlying the incidence and 
prevalence of the autoimmune diseases; (2) basic research 
concerning the etiology and causes of autoimmune dis-
ease; (3) epidemiological studies to address the frequency 
and natural history of the autoimmune diseases, includ-
ing any differences between the sexes and among racial 
and ethnic groups; (4) the development of improved 
screening techniques; (5) clinical research for the develop-
ment and evaluation of new treatments, including new bi-
ological agents; and (6) information and education pro-
grams for health care professionals and the public; 
Whereas the ADRP establishes that (1) there are between 14 
and 22 million people in the United States afflicted with 
an autoimmune disease (about twice as many as cancer); 
(2) the family of autoimmune diseases are genetically 
interrelated and share etiological pathways; (3) auto-
immune disease in the aggregate is among the 10 leading 
causes of death in women in all age groups from 15 to 
64; (4) there are an estimated 240,000 new autoimmune 
disease cases annually; (5) current NIH funding for auto-
immune disease research is focused on only a fraction of 
the approximately 80 known autoimmune diseases; and 
(6) current NIH autoimmune disease research is spread 
across the NIH Institutes;
•HRES 610 IH 
Whereas NIH has estimated the cost to treat autoimmune 
disease patients in the United States is greater than 
$100 billion annually, and this is on the order of cancer 
and heart disease treatment costs; 
Whereas the direct effects of the disease and the side effects 
of immunosuppressive drugs can be devastating to pa-
tients, and the burden placed on the families and care-
givers of autoimmune disease patients can be enormous; 
Whereas autoimmune diseases are chronic, with patients bur-
dening the healthcare system for decades; 
Whereas treatment expenses are increasing as more effective 
but more expensive immunosuppressive drugs enter the 
market; 
Whereas the healthcare burden of autoimmune diseases will 
grow rapidly in the future as a result of the growing 
number of patients and the increasing costs for new 
treatments; 
Whereas the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has studied the 
NIH organizational structure and concluded that inter-
Institute research is needed to synergize research and 
thereby improve cost-effectiveness; and 
Whereas the ADCC has been and continues to effectively pro-
mote collaboration among the Institutes (as rec-
ommended by the IOM) on autoimmune disease research, 
but on a limited basis due to lack of funding: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that there should be an increase in the level 
of appropriations provided for carrying out the Auto-
immune Diseases Research Plan established by the Auto-
•HRES 610 IH 
immune Diseases Coordinating Committee at the National 
Institutes of Health.
Æ