Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin

Senator Sherrod Brown

Senator Herbert “Herb” Kohl

When a member of Congress goes above and beyond to serve the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMD) community, they are recognized for their efforts with a “Distinguished Public Service Award.” Below are the Members of Congress who have been presented with this honor.

Congressman Sensenbrenner introduced the bipartisan Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research and Treatment Act (H.R. 2239) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This landmark legislation seeks to expand the federal commitment to FGIMDs research while calling on regulators to improve the review, approval, and oversight of treatments for FGIMDs. It is only fitting that Congressman Sensenbrenner would take the lead on H.R. 2239, due to the fact that he has long been an active supporter of the FGIMDs community in Congress.


 

Congresswoman Baldwin was one of the lead sponsors of House Resolution 1309 (H.Res. 1309), the bipartisan measure to raise awareness of FGIMDs on Capitol Hill in the 111^th Congress. H.Res. 1309 educated legislators about FGIMDs and encouraged NIH to bolster research in this area. Congresswoman Baldwin has also championed women’s health issues, including GI issues through her role on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee.


 

Senator Brown is the lead sponsor of the Pediatric Research Consortium Establishment Act in the Senate. Senator Brown represents the CoordinatingCenterof the nationwide DHAPediatric GI Research Consortium, Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. This bill would bolster pediatric medical research by establishing up to 20 federally supported pediatric research consortia and funding them at up to $2.5 million annually. In addition to his leadership on pediatric medical research, Senator Brown is also a constant champion of funding increases for NIH through his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.




 

As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee, Senator Kohl has championed the effort to increase funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additional resources for the FDA mean the agency can more quickly and effectively approve and regulate innovative treatment options. In addition, Senator Kohl is Chair of the Special Committee on Aging and through this position has worked to improve health outcomes for individuals with bowel incontinence.


 

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Congressional Champions

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