If coal based sources of energy were to deteriorate in major portions of this country, you would lose whole mining communities.

I would be remiss if I did not thank my colleagues who have sponsored honesty in sweepstakes legislation in the House.

The issue of consumer protection, whether it relates to telemarketing fraud or sweepstakes deception is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

I am proud to have played a part in the House consideration and markup of the Honesty in Sweepstakes Act of 1999.

I urge all my colleagues to read through this seminal report and to share copies with their constituents.

I have long supported increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The direct economic cost of health care for kidney failure, stemming largely from the Federal Government, is more than $15 billion per year.

There is no cure for kidney disease. But there is room for hope.

I rise to recognize the tremendous work performed by a group of dedicated and tireless professionals: the members of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).

In 1997, approximately 361,000 Americans suffered from ESRD and required life-saving dialysis or kidney transplants.

It is estimated that 12.5 million Americans have lost at least 50% of their normal kidney function.