Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley) for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy. Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, increasing funding for arthritis research within the Department of Defense is an issue that deserves and warrants our attention. Military servicemembers and veterans live with arthritis at significantly higher rates than civilians. A recent study found that servicemembers aged 20 to 24 had osteoarthritis at a 26 percent higher rate than their civilian counterparts. In the same study, servicemembers over 40 are twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis after returning to civilian life. Arthritis affects one in three veterans and is the second leading cause of medical discharges. The corresponding healthcare and disability compensation costs are ultimately borne by the taxpayer. But by increasing research funding, we could help identify ways to reduce the risk and help prevent the development of arthritis in our military training and service. As co-chairman of the Arthritis Caucus with Anna Eshoo, I have been engaged with the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology, and other organizations on this important issue. We are asking Chairwoman Granger to commit to working with us to ensure that arthritis research receives the funding it deserves.”