Chicago, IL. ---- WASHINGTON (September 28, 2005) - Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) announced today the establishment of a National Commission on Digestive Diseases, under the direction of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will work to study the causes of and improve the health of more than 70 million Americans who are diagnosed with digestive diseases and disorders each year.  The Commission is the result of legislation sponsored by Congressman Rush and Congressman Roy Blunt, which was enacted as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill signed into law by President Bush last October.

 Congressman Rush, who serves on the Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed great optimism with advancements that the National Commission can make in understanding, treating and preventing digestive diseases.  

 “With such a high incidence of digestive diseases in this country, the National Commission on Digestive Diseases will help facilitate research that can later provide medical professionals and individuals with action plans for healthier lifestyles,” said Rush.  “I am pleased to play a role in advancing our country’s understanding of digestive diseases, while identifying effective treatments and preventive measures.“

 At Congressman Rush’s request, in addition to formal Commission deliberations, there will be working groups, one of which will address the impact of digestive diseases on minority communities. The family of digestive diseases includes, but not limited to, heartburn, peptic ulcers, hepatitis, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer.

 After studying the incidence, duration and mortality rates of digestive diseases, as well as the economic impact, the Commission would then be charged with evaluating the resources necessary to expedite the discovery of treatments and cures for patients with digestive disorders while developing a 10-year long-range plan for effectively addressing these needs. 

The Commission will be composed of 16 permanent members, appointed for the life of the Commission by the director of NIH and 18 nonvoting “ex officio” members from NIH and other federal government agencies involved in research of digestive diseases.

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   Congressman Rush Paves the Way for Digestive Studies/page 2

 The Commission members will examine the incidences and impact of digestive diseases on the general and specific population, evaluating the public and private facilities and resources available for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of digestive disease, and identifying programmatic factors to improve digestive disease management and treatment.

 Dr. David Rubin, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago and spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association believes Rush’s legislation will benefit patients with digestive diseases of all types.  “Having an expert commission identify priorities for our national research efforts is a major milestone at both the scientific and population level,” said Rubin.  “Congressman Rush’s legislation is a model for other disease types, and will impact our work in digestive disorders well into the next generation.”

 The National Commission on Digestive Diseases will update the findings of the original commission, which was convened in 1976.  Since the original report in 1979, the burden of digestive diseases in the U.S. remains substantial.

 For more information about the Commission or other legislation by Congressman Bobby L. Rush, please visit www.house.gov/rush.