Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) was joined by U.S. Representative Lois Capps (D-CA) in introducing the ‘Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2008.’ Lantos, the late California congressman whose family has been touched by the rare heart-lung disease, had been working alongside Brady for years to promote more research into better treatments and a cure for patients diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension.

“No one has been more passionate or committed to finding a cure for Pulmonary Hypertension than my friend Tom Lantos,” says Brady, who first targeted the rare disease in 1998. “I am proud to join Lois Capps in introducing this legislation which will take a critical step toward the day this disease is no longer incurable.”

This legislation mirrors an earlier version from the previous Congress that has attracted over 247 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The measure urges the National Institute of Health to aggressively pursue collaborative research into better treatments for PH, provides funding to increase physician awareness of the disease to ensure early and accurate diagnosis, and directs a study of Medicare and Medicaid coverage of the disease.

Pulmonary hypertension afflicts over 100,000 Americans today but continues to strike women of child-bearing age in growing numbers.

“Due to the great work of NIH and the leadership of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, patients are now living longer than before, almost five years after diagnosis, and there are many more treatments in the pipeline,” adds Brady. “We must build on this progress and offer hope to the families who face this disease.”

Both Congressman Lantos and Brady have been personally affected by the Pulmonary Hypertension disorder. Several years ago Congressman Lantos’ granddaughter, Charity, was diagnosed with PH. Similarly, over a decade ago the daughter of Congressman Brady’s very good friend, Jack Stibbs, was diagnosed with PH. Jack’s daughter, Emily, was only five when her parents noticed at a community parade that she was struggling to bicycle fast enough to keep up with her friends. Jack Stibbs continues to be a national leader in the effort.