Tobacco Documents Online

~f41SV J ,.. . .. .., ~'" _. .~ ._.. . _y ....._. n ~~o/ f~e o~'~~s a~' . ~•-~~.',~'la1' ~i/ r ~/ . o~ /~.'a$sacpiu~e7ii5 OPENING STATE"1E?IT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON JUNE 7, 1978 AT A HEARING ON THE NATIONAL DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION ACT OF 1978 For Immediate Release June 7, 1973 The Subcom,^iittee on Health and Scientific Research continues today its hearings on S. 3115, the National Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Act of 1971. On May 25 we heard testimony on anti-smoking provisions contained in Title IV of the Act. Today we shift our focus to begin discussions of the balance of the legislation. We will place particular emphasis on Title I of the legislation, which authoriz(s formula and project grants for preventive health services. This is an historic time in the evolution of medicine and health care delivery in our country. Our medical scientists and epidemiologists are making exciting new strides in developing methods for the prevention of disease and the promotion of good health, and their work holds extraordinary promise for reducing the burden of illness in our society. We will hear today from a researcher from Stanford University who demonstrated that innovative prevention programs could reduce the risk of heart disease by twenty percent in a California community. In Finland, a pioneering prevention effort cut heart attack rates by 40 percent in one county. We have seen studies which demonstrate that men who exercise regularly and vigorously experience 60 percent fewer heart attacks than their more sedentary peers. And other research has shown that improved life style can extend life expectancy by anywhere from seven to eleven years. -:.~ , . fs.~ It is becoming clear, then, that disease prevention can help Americans live longer. But just as clear is that prevention programs can help us live better lives, as well. By preventing the chronic diseases which now plague so many of our citizens -- especially our older Americans -- we can improve the auality of the years we have. We can help citizens stay productive, active and happy. And that would be a rare and valuable accomplishment indeed. s S. 3115 aims at making these possibilities into realities. It J embodies the following principles: C..; First, that the prevention of illness and the maintenance of ~ good health is the wisest, most cost-effective and most humane approach to reducing the burden of illness in our country. jy Second, that we now have the means -- or will shortly develop .-11 them -- to prevent the diseases which afflict many Americans. Third, that in light of these facts, it is inexcusable that we spend less than 3 percent of our health dollar on preventive healt}, programs. Fourth, that to work, disease prevention programs must be -r10RE- ,

1 firmly based in the communities of America, and that State and local governments are idealil!y'suited to provide leadership and coordination ininurturing community-based health promotion programs. Eifth, that in supporting State'and local' government in their ~:preventioniefforts„ the federal government must strike ani appropriate balance between providing flexibility and'maintaining accountability. Sixth, that programs of disease p'reventilon an'd health promotion must reach out to Americans by using'the latest and most sophisticated method'sofcommunicationsin this coun'try,incl~uding the electronic media. And lastly, that it is now time for this country to d$velop' a fruly comprehensive strategy'for preventing dilsease and promoting, health among our people, a strategy that brings to'the American people the fruits of our new knowledge about how'to improve and d lengthenitheir lives through protecting their heal'th. That is what S. 3115 attempts to a''chiev'e. I am confident that with the wise assistance of my coLleagues', who made major contributions to this legislation,'an'd of'witnesses such as those before us~today, we can mak'e major strides in reducing the burdeniof illness in the United States. r_ r. Y.', . ~. ... -. . _.... 7' . .., , . r .? ,. ~...~. J7'it51 a j.., .l :. . F : r ..r'.~ ~• ~ ~. .. c. . -... ., r ~ ..o : ~~1 ::Li ; ir7 .4..., ( . .~~. . .... :.~'.. .~: -s.SiE...