http://fairfaxnews.com/2013/02/wolf-co-sponsors-lyme-disease-bill/
Wolf Co-Sponsors Lyme Disease Bill
Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10th) today announced he is again cosponsoring legislation to combat Lyme disease, which affects an estimated 275,000 Americans each year and is endemic to Virginia.
He also announced he will again serve as co-chairman of the Lyme Disease Caucus for the 113th Congress along with Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Collin Peterson (D-MN). Wolf previously served as co-chairman of the Caucus during the 112th Congress.
Two bills, H.R. 610 and H.R. 611 were introduced today. Both would require the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a federal Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee charged with coordinating research and advising federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. H.R. 611 has a funding component. It would authorize $20 million for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to fund the additional research.
Wolf said the goal of the legislation is to expand efforts to increase awareness, knowledge and transparency on Lyme disease issues, and would enhance research for Lyme diagnostics, treatments and prevention to help improve patient health.
The advisory committee would ensure coordination and communication among federal agencies, a broad range of medical professionals, and patients. The committee would meet at least twice a year, and submit, through the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the director of the National Institutes of Health, an annual report of its activities.
Both bills are sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who introduced identical bills in both the 111thand 112th Congresses. Wolf cosponsored the bills in both Congresses.
Wolf has long been an advocate for victims of Lyme disease. He has hosted numerous community forums in the 10th district to help educate residents and medical professionals about the dangers of Lyme and how to protect themselves when outdoors from tick bites.
Wolf has long been an advocate for victims of Lyme disease. He has hosted numerous community forums in the 10th district to help educate residents and medical professionals about the dangers of Lyme and how to protect themselves when outdoors from tick bites.
“I hope this legislation continues to raise awareness about this terrible disease and moves us closer to finding solutions for those infected,” said Wolf.
Lyme is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the U.S. today. If not diagnosed and treated early, Lyme disease can lead to disseminated infection and can affect every system in the body, including the central nervous system. Later symptoms of Lyme disease include arthritis of weight-bearing joints; neurological problems, such as facial paralysis, encephalopathy, memory problems, weakness of the extremities; and heart symptoms, such as heart block and inflammation of the heart muscle. Lyme has been reported in every U.S. state and is becoming more prevalent.
“We must do all that we can to educate ourselves about the disease,” Wolf said. “These bills are vital to our efforts to protect ourselves and our children from Lyme disease in the future.”
