Senators Coons held a press conference in the Capitol today announcing the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act of 2011. Chris was joined at the press conference by Senator Kirk (R-Ill.), former Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.), and members of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Chris underscored the need for members of Congress to put partisan politics aside and work together to improve American’s health and well being.
“One of the things that’s always made Delaware special is the way that folks like Congressman Castle and I are able to work together in a bipartisan way to tackle hard issues,” Chris said. “Certainly, the 200,000 Americans currently affected by pulmonary fibrosis don’t care whether the folks who are working on the issue are Democrats or Republicans, members of the House or Senate, governors or physicians. They’re really less interested in partisanship and role in life than they are in having this dreadful disease tackled.”
Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal disease for which the cause is unknown and cure undiscovered. It is estimated that 48,000 Americans are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis each year.
As many as 40,000 Americans die from pulmonary fibrosis each year, which is about the same number as die from breast cancer.
The bill is designed to enhance research, prevention and awareness activities around the disease, creating a national registry, expanding federal research at the National Institute of Health, and creating a national action plan.
To learn more about the event, click here.
To learn more about the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, click here.
To learn more about the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, click here.