Congress has largely ignored the public health crisis of pain & symptom management in the USA. However, the state of Oregon has taken several steps to improve quality of life for people who are dying. The author has also worked to improve the care provided to the terminally ill by introducing the Conquering Pain Act, by asking the General Accounting Office to explore why people do not receive their full hospice benefit, & by examining ways to respond to the mental health issues associated with dying. The author believes that quality end-of-life care is both a right & a responsibility & that it deserves immediate attention. (15 notes)