ENZI: HELP COMMITTEE APPROVES CRITICAL BILLS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), today saidhe is pleased that the HELP Committee approved a series of bills to enhance the publichealth, including measures to expand breast cancer research, advance standards formedical imaging certification, help states develop systems of care for stroke patients, andthree bills that focus on assisting pregnant women and children. Enzi praised the Committee’s actions and said he will work with colleagues tomake additional improvements to the bills before bringing them to the full Senate fordebate. Enzi spoke on the following bills, which the HELP Committee approved:• S. 579, Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 – Creates anational strategy to conduct research into the possible links between breast cancerand the environment, by establishing a peer-reviewed grant program within theNational Institutes of Health (NIH). “Breast cancer is one of the greatest health challenges facing American womenand their health care providers today. Although we have come a long way in combatingthis disease, we are still far from where we’d like to be. This bill will help us improveour understanding of possible environmental causes and potential methods of preventingbreast cancer.” • S. 999, Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2008 – Establishes agrant program to enable states to develop systems of care for stroke patients. “When a life is on the line, stroke treatment is dependent on the systems of carethat are available to the individual experiencing a stroke, and the timing in which he orshe can receive that critical care. This bill will go a long way toward helping statesestablished coordinated stroke care systems so that Americans can receive the treatmentthey need, when they need it.”• S. 1042, Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) inMedical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act – Improves patient safety andhealth care quality by advancing standards for medical imaging certification. “For millions of Americans each year, the road to diagnosis, treatment, andhealing begins in the radiology department. The CARE Act will require educationstandards for the professionals that perform medical imaging and radiation therapy toensure that they are properly trained. This bill is vital to improving patient safety andhealth care quality.”• S. 1760, Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007 – Reauthorizes the HealthyStart program to provide grants for health care services pregnant women andchildren, including prenatal care, genetic counseling, and ultrasound services.“The Healthy Start program provides vital services to mothers to reduce infantmortality rates and help ensure that children across the country are given a healthy start tolife. This strongly bipartisan reauthorization will build upon the successes of thisprogram.” • S. 1810, Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act –Provides education materials to mothers receiving a positive diagnosis of aprenatally or postnally diagnosed condition, such as Down syndrome.“When an expectant mother finds out that her child will be born with a significantdisability, she needs all the support and help we can provide to educate her and prepareher for life with her new child’s unique needs. I am very pleased we were able to workthrough some concerns to reach an agreement on this important bipartisan bill.”The HELP Committee also approved the following nominations:• Jonathan Baron, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Board forEducation Sciences;• Frank Handy, of Florida, to be a Member of the National Board for EducationSciences;• Sally Shaywitz, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the National Board forEducation Sciences;• Jamsheed Choksy, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Foundation on theArts and Humanities;• Gary Glenn, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Foundation on the Artsand Humanities;• David Hertz, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Foundation on the Artsand Humanities;• Marvin Scott, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Foundation on the Artsand Humanities;• Carol Swain, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the National Foundation on theArts and Humanities;• Julia Bland, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the National Museum and LibraryScience Board;• Jan Cellucci, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the National Museum andLibrary Science Board;• William Hagenah, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Museum andLibrary Science Board;• Mark Herring, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the National Museum andLibrary Science Board;• Javaid Anwar, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Truman Scholarship Foundation;• Neil Romano, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Office of DisabilityEmployment Policy, Department of Labor;• Dr. Joxel Garcia, of Connecticut, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps ofthe Public Health Service and Assistant Secretary of Health, Department ofHealth and Human Services;• Michael Duffy, of Washington DC, to be Chairman of the Federal Mine Safetyand Health Review Commission; and,• Robert Cohen, of West Virginia, to the Federal Mine Safety and Health ReviewCommission. ####