September 17, 2010

Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Stem Cell Research

Yesterday, the Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Harkin (D-IA), held a hearing on stem cell research, entitled, "The Promise of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research." The hearing featured testimony from NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, three stem researchers and a patient advocate. In his testimony, Dr. Collins outlined the potential that human embryonic stem cell research holds for 1) understanding the molecular basis of diseases; 2) regenerating and repairing diseased organs; and 3) screening for new therapies. The subcommittee also heard from lawmakers and scientists opposed to embryonic stem cell research, including Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who sponsored a 1996 measure prohibiting federal funding of such research.

In his statement to the committee in support of embryonic stem cell research, Chairman Harkin stated, "No one has ever claimed that embryonic stem cells are a silver bullet. But they have special properties that no other cells can match, and that's why they offer so much hope to people who are suffering. That's why so many scientists are excited to have access to these stem cell lines and to see what they can learn from them. "

Although the injunction halting federal funding of stem cell research was lifted last week by a District Court, the issue will continue to move back and forth in legal limbo for months. The ATS is working with congressional leaders to support legislation that would codify federal funding of stem cell research so that it would not be subject to legal challenges and bring it to a vote in Congress as soon as possible. Although a specific legislative vehicle has not yet been identified, it is very possible that Congress could vote on the issue within the next few weeks before adjourning for the election.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Measure Cutting Prevention and Public Health Fund Fails in Senate

Also this week, the Senate voted down an amendment the Small Business Credit and Jobs Act, sponsored by Sen. Johanns (R-NE), that would have eliminated most funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Johanns amendment was defeated by a vote of 46-52. Sixty votes were needed to pass the measure.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, created through healthcare reform, provides $15 billion in funding over 10 years for chronic disease prevention programs at the state and local level, including tobacco cessation and smoking prevention activities, obesity prevention and health screenings and for strengthening state and local capacity to detect, control and prevent infectious diseases like tuberculosis. The ATS thanks members who made calls to their senators in support of the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

CLEAN AIR

EPA Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act

This week, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson hosted an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act. At the event, researchers, policy makers and citizens noted the many improvements in public health achieved under the Clean Air Act.

Under the first 20 years (1970-1990) of the Clean Air Act, EPA estimates the Clean Air Act prevented:

• 205,000 premature deaths
• 672,000 cases of chronic bronchitis
• 21,000 cases of heart disease
• 843,000 asthma attacks
• 10.4 million lost I.Q. points in children - mostly from reducing lead in gasoline
• 18 million child respiratory illnesses

In the next 20 years of the Clean Air Act, EPA estimates:

• From 1990 through 2008, emissions of six common pollutants wereare down 41 percent, while gross domestic product has grown 64 percent.
• Lead levels in the air are 92 percent lower than in 1980, greatly reducing the number of children with IQs below 70 as a result of dirty air.
• Preliminary EPA analysis shows that in 2010, the Act's fine particles and ozone programs will prevent more than 160,000 premature deaths. The economic value of air quality improvements is estimated to reach almost $2 trillion for the year 2020, a value that exceeds the costs to comply wi th the 1990 Clean Air Act and related programs.

The Washington Letter is written by the American Thoracic Society government relations office and emailed to all ATS members living in the United States. The letter keeps clinicians, scientists, and patients abreast of legislative, judicial, and regulatory issues in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Each week's edition is archived on the ATS Web site, www.thoracic.org. If you have any questions or one more information about becoming involved in advocacy, please contact the ATS Washington office at 202-296-9770.