IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 39
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding viral hepatitis. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2003
Mr. WYNN (for himself, Mr. UPTON, Mr. FORD, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. TOWNS, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. JANKLOW, Mrs. JONES 
of Ohio, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 
ENGEL, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr. FROST, Mr. DINGELL, Ms. GRANGER, and 
Mr. MCDERMOTT) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding viral 
hepatitis.
Whereas viral hepatitis is a serious public health problem af-
fecting millions of Americans; 
Whereas in the United States, approximately 3,900,000 
Americans have been infected with hepatitis C (of whom 
2,700,000 are chronically infected), 1,250,000 Americans 
are infected with hepatitis B, and hepatitis A infection 
exceeds 20 cases per 100,000 citizens; 
Whereas approximately 10,000 to 15,000 Americans die an-
nually from complications arising from chronic viral hep-
atitis infections;
•HCON 39 IH 
Whereas all viral hepatitis is preventable through education 
and immunization; 
Whereas viral hepatitis is typically asymptomatic, and there-
fore infected individuals may unknowingly transmit the 
virus to others; 
Whereas persons infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C may 
not learn of their infection until 10 to 20 years later 
when complications arise from chronic viral hepatitis; 
Whereas hepatitis C infection is the largest single cause for 
liver transplantation and one of the principal causes of 
liver cancer and cirrhosis; 
Whereas vaccinations exist for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, 
and there is a need to promote immunizations, especially 
for those who are infected with other hepatitis viruses; 
Whereas no vaccine exists for hepatitis C, and treatments 
have limited success, making this infection among the 
most costly diseases in terms of health care costs, lost 
wages, and reduced productivity; 
Whereas approximately one quarter of HIV-infected persons 
in the United States are also infected with hepatitis C; 
Whereas hepatitis C infection progresses more rapidly to liver 
damage in HIV-infected persons and may impact the 
course and management of HIV infection; 
Whereas hepatitis C affects 1.5 percent of the United States 
population and is 2 to 3 times more common among Afri-
can Americans and Hispanics than Caucasians; 
Whereas therapy for hepatitis C is evolving, and currently 
recommended regimens are effective in approximately 40 
percent of patients;
•HCON 39 IH 
Whereas the response rate to therapy for hepatitis C in Afri-
can Americans is much lower than in Caucasians; 
Whereas although end-stage liver disease is more common in 
minority individuals, those individuals are less likely to 
undergo liver transplantation; 
Whereas the survival rate after liver transplantation appears 
to be lower for African Americans than for Caucasians; 
Whereas early diagnosis can lead to the possibility of pre-
venting further transmission of viral hepatitis; 
Whereas prevention education and other preventive measures, 
such as vaccination, can lead to the prevention of viral 
hepatitis; 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 fund-
ing for prevention education and immunization for hepa-
titis A and B, and increased research on viral hepatitis: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) national and community organizations and 
health care providers should be applauded for their 
role in promoting awareness about viral hepatitis 
and the importance of early detection, prevention 
education, other preventive measures (such as vac-
cination), and ongoing screening; 
(2) the Federal Government, with respect to 
viral hepatitis, has a responsibility—
•HCON 39 IH 
(A) to endeavor to raise awareness about 
the importance of prevention education, other 
preventive measures (such as vaccination), 
counseling, and appropriate treatment; 
(B) to increase funding for prevention edu-
cation, other preventive measures (such as vac-
cination), and research, so that transmission of 
viral hepatitis is reduced and early detection of 
viral hepatitis is promoted; 
(C) to increase efforts to find more effec-
tive treatments and cures; and 
(D) to continue to consider ways to im-
prove access to high-quality health care services 
for the early detection and treatment of viral 
hepatitis; 
(3) the Director of the National Institute of Di-
abetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases should 
continue to take a leadership role in the fight 
against viral hepatitis through the expansion of 
basic, clinical, and genetic research; and 
(4) the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention should give priority consider-
ation to the establishment of a national viral hepa-
titis roundtable that is aimed at providing leader-
ship, support, and organization for viral hepatitis
•HCON 39 IH 
prevention, education, and treatment, and that in-
cludes representatives of the Federal Government 
and private, nonprofit organizations that play a role 
in hepatitis prevention, education, treatment, and 
advocacy.
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