The Congressional Briefing on Pain: The Epidemic of Pain in America

The Congressional Briefing on Pain, held June 13, 2006 on Capitol Hill, was attended by over 100 congressional staffers and pain advocates. Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Charlie Norwood, Dr. Rollin Gallagher and Dr. Howard A Heit shared the facts about pain, the personal and economic impact of this “silent epidemic,” and the critical need for federal pain policy and legislation.

Testimony of Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH
Testimony of Howard A. Heit, MD, FACP, FASAM

The congressional hearings drew an outstanding audience of staffers and members of the pain advocacy community.

Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich) and Dr. Howard Heit spoke at the hearings. Rogers is the author of HR 1020, the National Pain Awareness Act. (photo: Michael John Coleman, the Executive Director and Founder of M.A.G.N.U.M., the National Migraine Association)

Will Rowe, executive director of the American Pain Foundation (center) with Drs. Gallagher and Heit (Photo Credit: Mary Bennett)