CONTACT
Nicole Tieman, 202-225-5101
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner introduced the Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2017 in the House of Representatives, which requests that the National Institute of Health (NIH) allocate time and already available resources to the research of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders.
Functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders affect two in five Americans, causing great personal hardship on affected individuals and costing society more than $30 billion annually.
There are currently no known cures for these disorders, and lack of adequate research provides few treatment options. Further, these disorders are often misdiagnosed and improperly treated, resulting in increased patient suffering and additional financial burdens placed on patients and American taxpayers.
The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2017 requests that NIH dedicate time and already available resources to the research of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in the hope that such research would better equip medical professionals to accurately diagnose and treat these disorders, as well as potentially find lasting cures.
Additionally, this legislation will direct the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney diseases to provide continued funding for the advancement of gastrointestinal and motility research.
Congressman Sensenbrenner: “America is the world leader in medical research and technological advances. With time and resources dedicated to finding cures, I’m confident that we can help every American suffering with gastrointestinal and motility disorders and drastically improve their quality of life. This fiscally responsible, bipartisan bill received great support during the 114th Congress, and I look forward to working with my colleagues again this session to see it to the finish line.”
