The bipartisan Congressional Kidney Caucus was founded by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) in March 2002. The purpose of the Caucus is to educate Congress and the public about the problem kidney disease poses for our society and to educate Congress and the public about the federal government’s singular role in providing access to life-sustaining treatment for those Americans with the severest form of chronic kidney disease (CKD), stage 5 CKD.