Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 250, a resolution that recognizes the goals and ideals of the week of May 9th as National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.

I first want to thank Mr. Murphy for his leadership on this resolution.

During the week of May 9, health advocates from around the country will be putting on a national media campaign, ``Aim for the B,'' to raise awareness about the disease and to educate the community about prevention through testing and vaccination.

Mr. Speaker, the numbers are startling. In the United States, 12 million people (1 out of 20) have been infected at some time in their lives with the hepatitis B virus, more than one million people in the U.S. have developed chronic hepatitis B infection, and more than 5,000 Americans die from hepatitis B-related liver complications each year.

Chronic hepatitis B is often called a ``silent disease'' because more than two-thirds of the 12 million Americans infected with hepatitis B have no recognized symptoms. Of those who are diagnosed, fewer than ten percent seek long-term medical care that could allow more hepatitis patients to lead long and healthy lives. Those who do not receive treatment often suffer cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer.

Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) are particularly susceptible to this disease--as many as 1 out of 10 APIAs are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus. Accordingly, liver cancer rates among males are 13 times higher among Vietnamese Americans, eight times higher among Korean Americans, and six times higher among Chinese Americans than among the general population.

The most common route of infection among APIAs is through mother-to- child transmission. In the United States, APIA children were found to have low vaccination rates despite national vaccination guidelines and availability. Many children worldwide remain unvaccinated and may become chronically infected as adults. Furthermore, the incidence of liver cancer among APIA ethnic groups is 1.7 to 11.3 times higher than rates among Caucasian Americans.

Hepatitis B is extremely infectious. In fact, the disease is 100 times more infectious than HIV. Most healthy adults (90 percent) who are infected will recover and develop protective antibodies against future hepatitis B infections. A small number (5 to 10 percent) will be unable to get rid of the virus and will develop chronic infection.

Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I want to say it loud and clear so that there is no misunderstanding. Hepatitis B is a public health emergency for Asian Pacific Islander Americans.

We need to break the silence and bring awareness to our community about this disease. Hepatitis B diagnosis does not have to be a death sentence. The weapons to combat this disease are available, including vaccination, early diagnosis and treatments. During National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, events will be held across the United States to raise awareness about hepatitis B, educate sufferers and their physicians about improved methods of treatment and prevention, and open the dialogue within communities to stop the transmission of this virus.

Recognizing the goals of National Hepatitis B Awareness Week is an important step in efforts to increase awareness about this deadly virus. This resolution also seeks to honor those in the community and in medicine who seek to prevent additional cases of hepatitis B and improve the quality of life for those who have already contracted it.

We all have constituents affected by this disease, so let us come together and support a comprehensive response and spread awareness on prevention.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and all of the events during National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my support for House Resolution 250, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of a National Hepatitis B Awareness Month. Chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, so it is imperative for the Congress and federal government to become more focused on Hepatitis viruses.

Viral hepatitis represents a disease entity caused by at least 5 unrelated viruses which attack the cells of the liver. The majority of viral hepatitis cases are due to the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection with hepatitis B virus can produce a chronic infection which may lead to death from chronic liver disease.

Studies show that 4.9 percent of Americans have been infected with HBV, of whom 1.25 million are chronically infected. The expected direct medical costs associated with acute and chronic HBV infection for one U.S. birth cohort are estimated to be $81.9 million. The consequences of hepatitis-induced chronic liver disease may not become apparent until decades after infection.

Using the national data, it is estimated that more than 931,000 New Yorkers have been infected with HBV, with 46,550 of these persons chronically infected. An estimated 342,000 New Yorkers have been infected with HCV, with 237,500 of these persons chronically infected. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are complex infections that have significant epidemiologic, social and medical impact.

In addition to the potential financial burden to the state and the Nation, viral hepatitis can have a tremendous impact on the lives of many New Yorkers. As a result, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) identified the need for a comprehensive, collaborative and organized approach by partners across New York to address the public health problems associated with viral hepatitis.

On June 3 and 4, 2003, the NYSDOH, along with partners and stakeholders from across the state, participated in the Viral Hepatitis Strategic Planning Summit. This summit was to be the beginning of the development of a statewide viral hepatitis strategic plan. The two-day meeting began with presentations by representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NYSDOH. Then the participants were divided into four focus areas: (1) Prevention, (2) Education, (3) Surveillance and Research, and (4) Medical and Case Management. The focus areas served as the central elements of the strategic plan. By the end of the 2-day meeting, each focus area identified 3 to 5 priority issues, which were then developed into long- term goals, each with strategies and 5-year action plans for meeting the goals.

On Wednesday, May 11, at the Millennium Hilton, 55 Church St. in New York City, the Aim for the B campaign will conduct a media event to call greater awareness to hepatitis B. Speakers and panelists for the New York event include confirmed representatives from the Mayor's office, Hepatitis B Foundation, Weill Cornell Medical Center and Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. There will be other community events from coast-to-coast the week of May 9, and I salute those associated with this outreach and prevention effort.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the chance to convey my unity of support for House Resolution 250 and for the impressive awareness efforts being conducted nationwide to address hepatitis B.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for House Resolution 250, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of a National Hepatitis B Awareness Month. Hepatitis B is a serious health concern that unfairly attacks minority populations.

Almost 350 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis B, with 75 percent of those infected living in Asia. This disease has similar effects on the same groups of people here in the United States. Asians have the highest rate of chronic hepatitis B of all ethnic groups. Chronic hepatitis B rates for the Asian Pacific Islanders population range up to 15 percent, which is more than half of all the Americans diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.

African Americans are three to four times more likely than Caucasians to be infected with hepatitis B. Additionally, the African American workforce, consisting of over 3 million people, tend to work in occupations, such as nursing, health care and emergency services with higher exposure to the hepatitis B virus.

Over half the United States' total Asian American population lives in just three states, with 1.2 million living in New York. Seventeen percent of New York's population is of African-American descent.

The hepatitis disease is extremely dangerous, because not only does it lead to life-threatening illnesses such as cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer but it can also be easily transmitted through blood and body fluids, unprotected sex, and unsterilized needles. Also, many of those who have become infected with the disease will not have recognized symptoms until they develop the more serious illnesses.

Hepatitis B can be a preventable disease if vaccination programs, increased awareness, better disease management and public education initiatives are ongoing. By recognizing the week of May 9th as National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, we can join together and attack this life- threatening disease. During Hepatitis B Awareness Week, several community events are scheduled that will bring together physicians and public health advocates, patients and at-risk populations to increase awareness and education on prevention, and treatments for hepatitis B.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to lend my support for passage of this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for increased awareness and education around the potentially life- threatening disease, hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world, and approximately 5,000 Americans will die from complications of this disease in 2005.

The hepatitis B virus is extremely infectious. In fact, it is 100 times more infectious than the HIV virus. Twelve million people in the United States are already infected, and an additional 100,000 more will become infected this year. In my home state of Wisconsin, nearly 600 cases of hepatitis B are reported each year.

This disease is easily transmittable through blood and blood products, bodily fluid, from mother to newborn, unprotected sex, and intravenous drug use. Furthermore, this disease is especially dangerous because many people are completely unaware that they may have come into contact with it until they develop more serious complications such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Less than ten percent of Americans suffering from hepatitis B are receiving proper treatment for their disease.

Last week, I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting House Resolution 250, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Hepatitis B Awareness Week. Though vaccinations, increased awareness and education initiatives surrounding hepatitis B, this disease is largely preventable. During the week, community events across the country will bring together patients, public health advocates, physicians, and at risk populations to increase awareness and bolster education efforts on preventive measures and disease management.

As we recognize National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, I am hopeful that we can join together and work towards an end to this life- threatening disease.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to lend my support for House Resolution 250, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.

We possess the weapons to combat hepatitis B, including vaccination and treatment. For those infected, treatment options exist that are designed to stop the progression of liver disease and reduce liver damage. It is encouraging that educational programs like the ``Aim

for the B'' campaign during National Hepatitis B Week will raise awareness about chronic hepatitis B. I am also impressed with community forums scheduled this week to educate those currently living with the disease as well as their doctors about new and improved methods that can prevent its transmission and progression to liver disease.

As we recognize National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, I encourage Americans who may be at risk for chronic hepatitis B to get tested for the disease and to understand there is a large group of patients who do need treatment right now. With increased awareness, education and treatment for the disease, we can help stop the progression of hepatitis B to liver damage and liver disease.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in reflecting on the importance of the work being done to combat chronic hepatitis B and recognize the fact that this is a preventable and treatable disease. I appreciate the opportunity to convey my support for House Resolution 250 and to recognize the need for more federal attention on hepatitis B.