Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee

The HELP committee was started in 1869 under the name of the Committee on Education.  In 1884 it became known as the Committee for Education and Labor, and continued to bear this title until the mid-1900s.  The name was formally changed in 1999 to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee under the direction of chairman James Jeffords (R-Vermont) (US Senate, HELP Committee).


According to the US Senate's HELP committee website (jurisdiction), "all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters" relating to this list of topics should be referred to the HELP Committee for review.  Some topics, as listed on the same website, include: child labor, aging, arts and humanities, disabled individuals, agricultural colleges, public health, wages and hours of labor, and student loans (US Senate, HELP Committee).

"Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to health, education and training, and public welfare, and report thereon from time to time" (US Senate, HELP Committee, Jurisdiction).

The HELP Committee reviews items from Congress that pertain to the above subjects.  A portion of those items are selected for consideration by the Committee for approval or denial.  When an item is chosen for consideration the Committee often requests the written opinion of organizations affiliated with the item.  The Committee then conducts hearings at which experts express their opinions and findings and clarify questions posed by members of the Committee.  The Committee then undertakes the task of amending the language within the proposal.  Finally, the HELP Committee sends the bill back to Congress, along with a summary of its findings, for continued debate  (United States Senate, 2002, About the Senate Committee System).

Current members of the HELP Committee

Chairman- Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Ranking Member- Michael B. Enzi (R-WY)


Barabara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT)
Kay R. Hagan (D-NC)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
                (US Senate, HELP Committee)

All seats on the HELP Committee are currently filled.  There are no vacancies at present (US Senate, HELP Committee).

As chairman, Tom Harkins (D-IA) is responsible for planning annual meetings, calling meetings to order and adjourning them, ensuring that the committee operates in an efficient manner, and serving as a representative of the committee in Congress.  The chairman also plays an important role in the recruitment and training of new members (Bumpres, 2010).

As ranking member, Mike Enzi represents the minority.

S.425

In March, 2011 during the first session of the 112th Congress, Bill S.425, also known as the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011, was introduced.  This bill seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act to allow for a national surveillance program to monitor neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.  The bill was introduced by Mark Udall, read twice, and referred to the HELP Committee for review.  The bill calls for the Secretary to expand the ways in which monitoring of neurological disorders is conducted, develop a universal system to be used for storing information about such disorders, provide recommendations for continuing research in the field, and store important data related to these diseases such as demographics, risk factors, diagnostic markers, epidemiology, prevention, and outcomes criteria.  The bill also mandates that the Secretary will report findings to Congress no later than four years after the bill is enacted.  The bill gives the Secretary authority to issue grants to appropriate parties conducting research related to this topic.  Regarding finances, the bill states that priated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012, and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years" (National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011, 2011). 

Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Johnny Isakson is a Republican Senator from Georgia who serves on the HELP Committee.  (US Senate, HELP Committee).  Isakson is also a co-sponser of S.425 (National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011, 2011).  Regarding the passing of a recent resolution that he introduced to officially make March 25, 2011 "National Cerebral Palsy Day," Isakson said, "I am very pleased to support this resolution that raises awareness for a disease that affects many families.  I hope that Americans across the country will take time to educate themselves and others on cerebral palsy and show their support for the brave individuals who suffer from this disease” (johnnyisakson.com).

Based on the previous facts that Isakson co-sponsered this act and has also been involved in other pursuits for recognition of neurological disorders, it is reasonably assumed that he will vote FOR the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011.

My Vote

There are currently more than 600 identified neurological diseases, including well-known disorders such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.  Problems in motor skills such as speaking, swallowing, walking, breathing, and learning are seen in many disorders of the nervous system (Medline Plus, n.d., Neurologic Diseases). 

According to to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2006), "examples of population level interventions that prevent neurological disorders or disabilities include laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, laws against drunk driving, public health policies to provide better prenatal care and folic acid fortification of the food supply" (p. 102). 

Based on these statistics, I believe that neurological disorders affect many Americans and their families.  In the past, research has proven to be valuable in reducing the incidence of these types of conditions.  Therefore, I deem continued research important not only to those who are already affected by neurological disorders, but for future generations as well.  I would vote "yes" for the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System of 2011, or S.425. 

References

 Bumpres, B. (2010). Duties of the chairman. Retrieved on April 18, 2011 from http://www.ehow.com/list_6389021_chairman-duties.html

Johnny Isakson. Isakson applauds passage of resolution designating national cerebral palsy awareness day. Retrieved on April 20, 2011 from http://johnnyisakson.com/newsroom/press-releases/2011/02/23/isakson-applauds-passage-of-resolution-designating-national-cerebral-palsy-awareness-day/

Medline Plus. Neurologic diseases. Retrieved on April 20, 2011 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/neurologicdiseases.html

National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011, S.425, 112th Cong., 1st session. (2011).

US Senate. (n.d.) About the HELP Committee. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from http://help.senate.gov/about/

US Senate. (2011). About the Senate committee system. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from http://www.senate.gov/general/common/generic/about_committees.htm

World Health Organization (WHO). (2006). Disease control priorities related to mental, neurological, developmental, and substance abuse disorders. Geneva, Switzerland.