| Dr Blumenthal’s Introduction ofCongresswoman Constance Morella (R-MD)

Congresswoman Connie Morella represents a district that ishome to much of the Public Health Service, Montgomery County, and she has been a leader inthe cause of women’s health. For years, she has been a leading national voice drawingattention to the needs of women with HIV/AIDS, leading the fight to increase research andservices for these women. She has pushed for the development of women-controlled methodsof protection against HIV infection, including the development of vaginal microbicides,and has worked tirelessly to encourage the voluntary testing of pregnant women so that therisk for transmitting HIV to their infants is minimized. Congresswoman Morella is theRepublican co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. She is a nationalleader and a champion to improve women’s health, and I want to thank her for herleadership, for her dedication, and for her commitment to improving the status of women inour country and to improving all of our health.

Congresswoman Constance Morella(R-MD)

I am here as part of a welcoming committee, as co- chair ofthe Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. This *Healthy Women 2000* series isa spectacular program. I find that I learn from every one of them, and I know that all ofyou do too. 

The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues introducedabout a month and a half ago our women’s health equity package. It’s a packageof 35 bills divided in terms of services and research. The package of bills does include anumber that deal with autoimmune diseases, and we have one on genetic testing too, so thatthere should be no discrimination with regard to health insurance. Of course, we havepushed for further funding at the National Institutes of Health to deal with autoimmunediseases. 

Autoimmunity is the underlying cause of over 80 seriouschronic illnesses, and approximately 75% of the incidents of autoimmune diseases occur inwomen. The *Healthy Women 2000* conference today is opening up some of the mysteriesso that we will fully understand and be able to treat. Recently, the Office of Research onWomen’s Health at NIH designated autoimmunity as one of the major women’s healthpriorities, and as a group autoimmune diseases are the fourth largest disabler of women.We know that women are particularly likely to be affected by diabetes mellitus, lupus,rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and endometriosis. There is evidence thatsilicone breast implants can cause a reaction which may result in an autoimmune disease.These diseases cost us an estimated $86 billion per year, so when we look at curtailinghealth costs, let’s look at coming up with preventions, research, cures andunderstanding.

Autoimmunity, unlike cancer, has not been recognized as aseparate category of disease by much of the medical community and the public. Diagnosis isa problem. Victims are often considered hypochondriacs. The affected woman can suffer agreat deal, both physically and mentally, before doctors finally discover what is actuallywrong. Early screening of women and men with a family history of autoimmune diseases couldgo a long way to prevent significant health problems extended over a lifetime. I ampleased to see that the Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health andHuman Services has targeted this area for its *Healthy Woman 2000* series and I hopethat you know that Nita Lowey and I, as well as other members of Women’s Caucus, hopethat this conference will help to heighten public awareness about autoimmune diseases andthe need for increased research, improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of thesediseases in women as well as men. 

Shakespeare wrote, "In such business, action iseloquent." I submit that what we do will be very eloquent, because after this *HealthyWomen 2000* day we will move toward action. 

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