Andrus, Dr. E. Cowles, president-elect, American Heart Association. 34, 132 Berliner, Dr. Robert W., Chairman, Committee of Laboratory Chiefs, Betts, R. O., executive director, American Heart Association. Jones, Dr. T. Duckett, medical director, Helen Hay Whitney Founda- McCormick, Dr. Edward J., president, American Medical Association_ Perdue, Dr. Jean Jones, member, board of directors, Miami Heart Watt, Dr. James, Director, National Heart Institutes, National Insti- tutes of Health, Public Health Service, Department of Health, Wilkins, Dr. Robert W., vice president, American Heart Association. 23, 129 Wright, Dr. Irving S., past president, American Heart Association, and professor of clinical medicine, Cornell University Medical Additional information submitted for the record by- National Heart Institute-Appropriations from inception of the Doan, Dr. Charles, dean, college of medicine, Ohio State University__ 421 Farber, Dr. Sidney, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.. 298 Godwin, Dr. John T., pathologist, medical department, Brookhaven Hasterlik, Dr. Robert, Argonne Cancer Hospital, Chicago, Ill. 2. Statement of—Continued Page Meader, Dr. Ralph G., Chief, Research Grants Branch, National 318 Nathanson, Dr. Ira T., chairman, committee on cancer diagnosis and 323 Teeter, John, Damon Runyon Foundation_ Warren, Dr. Shields, director, cancer research institute, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Mass.- Wermer, Dr. Paul L., secretary, committee on research, American Cancer in the United States (including tables and charts). General funds raised and medical research funds allocated by Cost of medical care to cancer patients, prepared by National 212 Health, Education, and Welfare Department: Cancer, prepared by National Cancer Institute, National Insti- Lasker, Albert and Mary, Foundation, Inc.: Comparative figures on 223 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a. m., in the committee room, 1334 New House Office Building, the Honorable Charles A. Wolverton (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. This morning, the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce begins its inquiry into some important health problems. The hearings which have been scheduled so far cover a great deal of ground. It is appropriate for me, therefore, to outline briefly why we are making this inquiry and what the problems are which we expect to inquire into during these hearings. Among the diversified legislative functions assigned to this committee, none appears to me more important than the committee's legislative jurisdiction with regard to health. None of the many other subjects with which this committee deals affects every family and individual in these United States more directly than the subject of health. Apart, however, from the human factors involved, I have become convinced from my study of health problems that the subject of health has more important economic implications for our Nation than many of the economic activities which are subject to Federal regulatory legislation. The following figures are evidence of the economic importance of ill health. Recent surveys show that each day 134 million persons out of our civilian population between the ages of 14 to 64, estimated at 98 million, have been disabled from chronic diseases for more than a year. In the case of disabilities lasting 3 months, this figure increases to 2 million persons. The resulting economic loss each year has been estimated at 1 billion man-days. The major diseases on which we have scheduled our hearings rank foremost among the diseases that cause this tremendous economic loss. Four major diseases alone-heart, cancer, tuberculosis, and rheumatism and arthritis-have resulted in an annual loss of 370 million man-days. This accounts for over one-third of the total man-days lost annually on account of chronic diseases. The magnitude of the human suffering caused by these diseases and the enormous economic losses suffered both by the Nation as a whole and by individuals and family units raise two important questions: (1) How can some of the suffering and some of the economic losses be prevented or mitigated; and 1 |