HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK ARTHRITIS LEGISLATION

October 13, 2008

The legislation, co-sponsored by nearly 250 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 55 members of the U.S. Senate, addresses arthritis – the nation’s most common cause of disability that impacts one in five (46 million) Americans and 300,000 children. If passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law, the bill will expand and strengthen public health initiatives proven to combat the burden of arthritis, and improve access to pediatric rheumatologists to address the country’s severe shortage of these critical health professionals.

“We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, and we appreciate, recognize and applaud the leadership of Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Chip Pickering (R-MS) for moving this critical legislation forward in the House," said Dr. John Klippel, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation.

“The Arthritis Foundation is comprised of people all across the nation who have worked tirelessly over the past five years to let Congress know that more needs to be done for people with arthritis. Now that the bill has passed in the House of Representatives, the Arthritis Foundation and our grassroots advocates across the nation will work to see the bill pass in the Senate, signed into law and most importantly, implemented,” said Klippel. 

The Arthritis Foundation urges people to show support for this bill by contacting their Senators and becoming an advocate.