Congressional Testimony

Since our beginning in 1991, IFFGD has recognized the need for more research into causes and treatments of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders.

In the U.S., the majority of government sponsored medical research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The budget that ultimately influences NIH research funding is appropriated by the U.S. Congress. Many times over the years, IFFGD has provided oral and/or written testimony to Congressional subcommittees about the needs of the digestive health community. Examples include the Senate and the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.

We hope investigators may one day uncover clues as to why some people develop these disorders and identify promising new treatment options. Among the action items we have addressed are:

• Increased annual budget funding to the various institutes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Increased budget funding particularly to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) 
• Accelerated funding for clinical and basic research for the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, fecal incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, cyclic vomiting syndrome, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Hirschsprung's disease, and functional constipation in children
• Development of a strategic plan on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with the purpose of setting research goals on IBS and functional bowel diseases and disorders
• Funding for more research on the causes of esophageal cancer 
• Funding to support research into fecal and urinary incontinence, including the development of a standardization of scales to measure incontinence severity and quality of life and to develop strategies for primary prevention of fecal incontinence associated with childbirth

Transcripts

Recent transcripts of testimony from IFFGD is available for the Fiscal Years of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.