WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Congressman Chris Smith, a leading advocate in Congress of life-enhancing and life-affirming biomedical research, testified before a key Congressional committee today to ask for millions of additional dollars in federal funds to support key research and patient support projects.

 Co-Chairman of the Congressional Alzheimer’s and Autism Caucuses, Smith asked appropriators to support:
 
- $200 million more in Alzheimer’s disease research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the goal of $1 billion annually by the end of the decade.  

- $7 million more for a critical autism surveillance project led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); as well as $120 million for autism research at NIH. 

- $3 million more to support the National spina bifida program at the CDC, a program started this year after Smith successfully helped secure $2 million in FY 03.

“The federal government has an obligation to advance research into devastating diseases 
and disabilities to help find cures and therapies and to identify preventative strategies,” Smith said.  “Equally important is federal support for programs and initiatives that help patients and their families as they struggle to live with these conditions.”  

 In addition to the $200 million for additional NIH research into Alzheimer’s, Smith has also asked for increased funding to support expansion of caregiver support programs, enhancement of diagnostic tools, and assistance for states to reach medically underserved communities in need.

 The increased autism dollars will allow CDC to establish 20 surveillance centers throughout the nation.  Right now, there are 13 such centers, including one in New Jersey that Smith steered federal dollars toward via his autism legislation that became law through the Children’s Health Act. The projects are gathering data on new autism cases and then analyzing the data in an effort to learn what causes this developmental disability.  However, researchers need data from at least 20 states to obtain an accurate picture of the epidemic.

 The National spina bifida Program, established through a $2 million appropriation fought for by Smith in FY 03, is focusing on prevention, therapy, and prevention/treatment of secondary health problems that affect patients with spina bifida, the nation’s most common permanently disabling birth defect. 

Following are excerpts of Smith's testimony:

Mr. Speaker, Members of the Subcommittee:
 
 I want to thank you for allowing me to testify today about three very important public health concerns that, in total, affect millions of Americans.

Alzheimer’s Disease
 
 Today about 4 million Americans, including President Reagan, suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.  If we do not significantly boost our government’s commitment to Alzheimer’s research, this number will soar past 16 million Americans in less than 50 years; in addition to the many millions of family members who often serve as primary caregivers and whose lives are deeply affected by this disease. 
 
 As keepers of the purse strings of federal healthcare research dollars, you have the power to determine whether or not these dire predictions materialize. 
 
 Mr. Markey and I, joined by 118 of our colleagues, are asking the committee to appropriate an additional $200 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the goal of investing that money in expanded research into Alzheimer’s disease.  We also would like to see language in this year’s bill establishing a short-term goal of investing $1 billion annually at the NIH for Alzheimer’s research.  To prevent the staggering estimates of 2050 from materializing, scientists estimate we have a 10 year window of opportunity, at the most, to ratchet up our research and achieve significant gains.  
 
 Fortunately, current Alzheimer’s research is moving ever closer to finding effective treatments and cures.  Prevention of Alzheimer’s in those who are at risk but not afflicted, as well as treatments to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s in those who have symptoms, are both attainable goals in the immediate future. 
 
 If these research goals are reached within the next decade, the number of Alzheimer’s cases can be reduced by more than one-third.  Think of what this means to the millions of Americans, some of whom may be in this room or in this Congress – and their families – who could be spared from this fate. In addition to benefitting millions of American families, such positive developments would also help dramatically reduce the costs of healthcare, especially long-term nursing home care and Medicare and Medicaid spending.  We have two choices – we can either invest in research now while we still have time to make a difference, or pay tens of billions of dollars to care for patients in long-term care facilities. 

Autism
 
 As the number of new autism cases continues to grow, I am joined by 93 of my colleagues are seeking an increased commitment from the committee to aid our nation’s fight against autism.
 
 Thanks to the support of this committee, funding for autism surveillance and epidemiological research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and for research at the NIH has significantly increased over the past few years.  But more needs to be done to address this developmental disability which estimates say may affect as many as 1 in 250 Americans. 
 
 The past support of this committee has enabled the CDC to collect and analyze data on new cases of autism in a dozen states and the city of Atlanta, Georgia.  While the data gleaned from this pool will provide us with a good foundation, health officials say data from a minimum of 20 states must be analyzed to obtain an accurate picture of this epidemic.  This data will provide valuable clues into what causes this disorder and how it can be cured or treated. By providing an additional $7 million to the CDC for autism surveillance – $17 million total – we will help the CDC meet this goal. 
 
 Equally important is autism research at the NIH.  About $81 million was invested in autism research supported by the NIH in FY 03.  We are asking that the NIH budget for FY 04 be increased to support $120 million of research into autism and that the committee work toward a mid-term goal of a $250 million annual investment.  Again, we can either invest money now in data collection and research or spend billions of dollars in future years caring for the increased number of people with autism. 
 
Spina Bifida
 
 Last year, this committee helped to fill a void by appropriating $2 million to establish the National Spina Bifida Program at the CDC.  With the program already hard at work, 48 of my colleagues and I are requesting that the committee appropriate an additional $3 million in FY 04 – $5 million total – so the work can be enhanced and expanded.
 
 We know a great deal about spina bifida including what can be done to prevent its onset, how it can be treated, and how we can help people with spina bifida live fuller lives.  About 70,000 Americans suffer from this birth defect, and about 2,000 babies are born with it each year.  The National Program is focusing on three main themes of prevention, treatment, and quality of life improvements; and the additional funds will help the program expand its outreach and initiatives on all three fronts. 
 
 Unfortunately, too many women -- particularly those at risk -- are not consuming daily folic acid supplements which can reduce the chances of their unborn babies developing spina bifida by 75 percent.  Spreading this message is just one focus of the National Program.
 
 Prevention is important but for those affected it comes too late.  That is why we need a commensurate investment and focus on improving quality-of-life for people living with this birth defect.  I am very excited that this weekend, a two-day conference of leading spina bifida researchers and physicians will be held here in Washington.  This conference, which was convened in response to report language included in your FY 02 bill, will help further develop the spina bifida agenda and identify the gaps which need to be filled in research and care.
 
 In closing, I ask that you look favorably upon all three of these vital healthcare issues, each of which is supported by a significant number of our colleagues.