CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—APPENDIX AI611

The Battle Against Chronic Diseases

 

EXTENSION OF REMARKS
oF

HON. JOHN E. FOGARTY

OF RHODE ISLAND
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, March 20, 1951

Mr. FOGARTY. Mr. Speaker, the
battle against chronic diseases, which
has been advanced by sizable congres-
sional appropriations to the National In.
stitutes of Health in recent years, is
handicapped at the present time by a
Jack of precise data on the extent of
these crippling illnesses. Federal, State,
and local governmental agencies and
nongovernmental organizations have
been similarly handicapped in ‘their at-
tempts to properly plan facilities, re-
habilitation programs and research proj-
ects applicable to particular diseases.
Information to the extent of chronic
and disabling diseases in the United
States today is so inadequate that the
Congress has to rely upon data 15 years
old and of doubtful accuracy in making
appropriations for research in these
Giseases. The last survey of national
health was made in. 1935. Its scope was
restricted to the cities and did not cover
a broad enough segment of the popula-
tion.’

Recent military and mobilization
Manpower demands point up the need
for a move accurate picture of the extent
to which chronic illnesses have handi-
capped our defense effort. In terms of
production today, more than one and
one-half billion man-days are lost an-
nually because of sickness and disability.
Nearly 3,000,000 workers annually are
prevented from working by total dis-
ability. The financial loss to the Nation
is staggering-—$27,000,000,000 a year. In
appropriating moneys for research to cut
down this enormous toll, the Congress
should have, for guidance, a factual up-
to-date survey of the inéidence of each
particular disease. It is for these rea-
sons that I am today submitting a bill
to the Congress to provide for a survey
of sickness in the United States, I am
convinced that the considerable ad-
vances made in the science of sampling
since 1935, plus other improvements to
give more diagnostic medical accuracy,
would result in a more accurate and less
costly survey.

I am certain that the doctors of the
country will cooperate fully in this vital
survey. They have supported whole-
heartedly the work of the Commission
on Chronic Illness, established in 1949
to spearhead a joint attack on the seri-
ous national problems raised by chronic
iliness. The American Medical Associa-
tion, the American Hospital Association,
the American Public Health Association,

the American Public Welfare Associa- ~

tion, the insurance companies, labor
unions, the Grange, industry, as well
as State and city health and welfare de-
partments are all represented on this
commission. We can count on the as-
sistance of the Commission on Chronic
iliness in connection with the planning
and operation of the survey program,

 
Al612 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—APPENDIX _ MarcH 20

i can envision, as the result of this
proposed legislation, provision for peri-
odic estimates of the amount of chronic
disease and handicapping conditions in
the population. These periodic estimates
will be needed by all types of public and
private health agencies and organiza-
tions in the planning of programs.
Many cities and rural counties which
cannot afford to conduct a canvass of
this sort will benefit tremendously from
a periodic inventory which includes ac-
curate, up-to-date data.