Steinfeld, Jesse L., M.D., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs, Depart- ment of Health, Education, and Welfare; accompanied by Dr. John F. Sherman, Deputy Director, NIH; and Dr. G. Donald Whedon, Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Na- tional Institutes of Health_-_- Fordtran, Dr. John S., professor of internal medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Tex---- Hightower, N. C., Ph. D., president-elect, the American Gastroenterological Popper, Hans, M.D., Ph. D., professor of pathology, Mount Sinai School Leevy, Carroll M., M.D., professor of medicine, College of Medicine, Fordtran, Dr. John S., professor of internal medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Tex--- Hightower, N. C., Ph. D., president-elect, the American Gastroenterological Leevy, Carroll M., M.D., professor of medicine, College of Medicine, Seton Popper, Hans, M.D., Ph. D., professor of pathology, Mount Sinai School Steinfeld, Jesse L., M.D., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs, Depart- ment of Health, Education, and Welfare; accompanied by Dr. John F. Sherman, Deputy Director, NIH; and Dr. G. Donald Whedon, Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, National Insti- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Articles, publications, etc. : "Authority for Proposed Institute Now Exists Under the Public "Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis," by National Institute of Arthritis "Finally, Facts on Malnutrition in the United States," by F. Glen Articles, publications, etc.-Continued "Gastroenterology," special report, January 1960 and January 1970, "On the Establishment of a National Institute of Digestive Diseases Page 57, 67 133 29, 44 96 111 "The Gastroenterologist 'Gap'," by Malcolm P. Tylor, Duke University, reprinted from Hospital Practice, December 1969, volume 4, No. 12, pages 76–80.... 122 Communications to: Yarborough, Hon. Ralph, a U.S. Senator from the State of Texas, Balart, Dr. Louis, New Orleans, La., August 2, 1970 (telegram)__ 132 132 McHardy, Dr. Gordon, New Orleans, La., August 2, 1970 132 Welch, Dr. George, New Orleans, La., August 2, 1970 (telegram)__ Selected tables: 132 Estimated number of new cancer cases in the United States, 1970____ Minimum overhead structure-proposed digestive diseases and nutrition institute___. Number of cancer deaths in the United States, 1967-- NATIONAL DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND NUTRITION ACT MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1970 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10:35 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 4232 New Senate Office Building, Senator Ralph W. Yarborough (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Yarborough (presiding) and Dominick. Committee staff present: Lee Goldman, professional staff member; and Jay B. Cutler, minority counsel. The CHAIRMAN. The Senate Subcommittee on Health will come to order. This morning the Health Subcommittee on Labor and Public Welfare Committee begins public hearings on S. 3063. If enacted, it would create a separate Institute of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the National Institutes of Health. Digestive diseases are a national problem of major proportions. More than 12 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases. One hospital admission in six is attributable to digestive diseases. More than 200,000 Americans die each year from digestive diseases or complications which arise therefrom. The cost of these diseases amounts to more than $8 billion annually. However, in the face of this great problem little is being done. For example, there is no national effort to encourage young physicians to specialize in digestive diseases. Most medical schools have given short shrift to the training of these needed specialists. In addition to the meager support for these programs from the public sector, there is virtually no support from either private industry or philanthropic organizations. In order to overcome this obvious need, it is necessary to create a separate, special focus for the support of research into digestive diseases. S. 3063 would provide this focus within the National Institutes of Health. The NIH has a track record of proven success and accomplishment. The Institute to be established by this bill would become a part of that successful enterprise. In cooperation with volunteer and professional health efforts, this Institute will do much to broaden our understanding of the causes of digestive diseases. That understanding can then form the base upon which it will be possible to mount effective treatment programs. In other words, this bill is additive to the substantial effort which this committee has made over the years to effectively deal with this country's health care crisis. We cannot solve this problem by burying our heads in the sand. We cannot solve it by hoping it will disappear while we "study the problem." We cannot solve it by shedding crocodile tears over Federal expenditures. We can only solve it by understanding its dimensions, and then affirmatively doing what needs to be done. This bill represents one of those affirmative actions which we can and should take. Since 9 o'clock this morning, we have been checking on additional data. I had been told in the past that more man days of work were lost in industry from digestive illnesses than any other disease. I have ascertained that 300 million man days of work are lost each year from illnesses due to digestive disease. I wondered why digestive diseases had not received greater attention at the national level, and I have come to the conclusion that it is because so many people have it. Unlike certain other disabling diseases, like stroke, which are apt to turn a patient into a bedridden patient in a few seconds, digestive diseases are something that many, many millions of Americans work with, and with treatment they get up and go to work even though they have these diseases. Perhaps that is one reason why digestive diseases have not received the national attention in the past. So, I think it is time to act. (The text of S. 3063 and departmental reports follow :) 91ST CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 3063 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES OCTOBER 22, 1969 Mr. YARBOROUGH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to support research and training in diseases of the digestive tract, including the liver and pancreas, and diseases of nutrition, and aid the States in the development of community programs for the control of these diseases, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be cited as the "National Digestive 4 Diseases and Nutrition Act". |