Diseases and Medical Research
I am a strong supporter of medical research. Chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease affect 1 out of every 2 adults and kill nearly 2 million Americans every year. Funding through the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense provides the possibility of medical breakthroughs in the detection, treatment and ultimately cures for diseases that are creating so many hardships for individuals and families – and that cost our nation enormously in high medical costs and lost productivity.
I have joined with my colleagues to urge that we provide at least $32 billion in funding for NIH in FY2013, which will give us the opportunity to continue research into diseases from Alzheimers and AIDS to vision care and women's health.
More on Diseases and Medical Research
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, released the following statement condemning the decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra blocking a requirement that health insurance plans cover a range of preventive health services without a copay:
On Thursday, my treasured friend, Nancy Pelosi, announced that she will be leaving House leadership, but will remain in Congress representing her beloved city of San Francisco. This week marks 16 years since I was able to second her nomination as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON- Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Congressman Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) celebrated today's passage of their landmark legislation, H.R. 3630, the Lymphedema Treatment Act, which will ensure Medicare Part B coverage of doctor-prescribed compression garments, the clinically recognized treatment for lymphedema. The bill, which was reintroduced in June 2021, is also co-led by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mike Kelly (R-PA).
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement celebrating the US Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve a new treatment for ALS:
"Today is a beautiful day! I know that my dear friend, Arty, would have loved to see this day. I know it will bring hope to all Americans suffering from ALS.
"This is the first ALS treatment to be approved in five years. The average length of time that ALS patients live after diagnosis is 2-4 years. As President Biden says, ‘This is a big f'n deal.'
WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), and Ken Calvert (R-CA) sent a letter today to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inquiring about steps the agency is taking to approve groundbreaking new therapies for ALS and other deadly diseases and urging the agency to take a rapid approach to approving new life-saving treatments.
The members wrote:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, cheered the passage of her Lymphedema Treatment Act (H.R. 3630) out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation was reintroduced alongside Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Mike Kelly (R-PA) in June 2021 with 147 original cosponsors. Today, H.R. 3630 has 356 cosponsors, making it one of the most widely supported health care bills in the 117th Congress.