Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (CHHC) is pleased to announce the addition of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) as its newest member.

Hearing loss affects more than 28 million Americans. More than 12,000 infants in the United States - one in 300 - are born with some form of hearing loss each year. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard represents the state of California, in which more than 3.4 million people are deaf or hard of hearing.

"I commend the Caucus' co-chairs, Congressman Jim Ryun (R-KS), Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA), Congressman James Walsh (R-NY) and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and the Deafness Research Foundation for bringing members of Congress together in a bipartisan manner to raise awareness about hearing health issues," Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said. "Hearing loss is a national health problem that affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. I look forward to joining with other Caucus members in garnering support for legislation that directs federal resources to programs that prevent and address hearing loss. Important initiatives in this area include screening newborns at birthing hospitals, making quality treatment and devices available and affordable to all who need them and promoting vital research to improve treatment options for hearing loss and, ultimately, to find cures."

Boasting 36 members of Congress as of April, the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus was founded in January 2001, and is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of members of Congress committed to the support of hearing health issues. The CHHC holds luncheon briefings periodically, bringing to Congress the nation's most prominent scientists, surgeons, physicians, and business and lay leaders. Presenting the latest research, findings, and technological advances, speakers explain how this information directly contributes to the detection, intervention, prevention, and future research of hearing health issues.

The Congressional Hearing Health Caucus is sponsored by the Deafness Research Foundation, the nation's largest voluntary health organization devoted to research and public education related to hearing loss and hearing health, and by the World Council on Hearing Health. The World Council on Hearing Health is a global initiative committed to promoting universal hearing health. For more information, please visit www.hearinghealth.net.