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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 258 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 258

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
be established a National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 2007

 Mr. Israel submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
be established a National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas autoimmune diseases are chronic, disabling diseases in which underlying 
        defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own organs and 
        tissues;
Whereas autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the 
        blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, 
        endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life-
        threatening;
Whereas researchers have identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases, and 
        suspect at least 40 additional diseases of qualifying as autoimmune 
        diseases;
Whereas researchers have identified a close genetic relationship and a common 
        pathway of disease that exists among autoimmune diseases, explaining the 
        clustering of autoimmune diseases in individuals and families;
Whereas the family of autoimmune diseases is under-recognized, and poses a major 
        health care challenge to the United States;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that autoimmune 
        diseases afflict up to 23,500,000 people in the United States, 75 
        percent of the people affected are women, and the prevalence of 
        autoimmune diseases is rising;
Whereas NIH estimates the annual direct health care costs associated with 
        autoimmune diseases at more than $100,000,000,000, and there are over 
        250,000 new diagnoses each year;
Whereas autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in 
        female children and adult women;
Whereas autoimmune diseases most often affect children and young adults, leading 
        to a lifetime of disability;
Whereas diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are not standardized, 
        making autoimmune diseases very difficult to diagnose;
Whereas, because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, treatment is 
        often delayed, resulting in irreparable organ damage and unnecessary 
        suffering;
Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies reported that the 
        United States is behind other countries in research into immune system 
        self-recognition, the cause of autoimmune diseases;
Whereas a study by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association revealed 
        that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune disease more than 4 
        years, and costs more than $50,000, to get a correct diagnosis;
Whereas there is a significant need for more collaboration and cross-
        fertilization of basic autoimmune research;
Whereas there is a significant need for research focusing on the etiology of all 
        autoimmune-related diseases, to increase understanding of the root 
        causes of these diseases rather than treating the symptoms after the 
        diseases have had their destructive effect;
Whereas the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups is a coalition of 
        national organizations focused on autoimmune diseases working to 
        consolidate the voices of patients with autoimmune diseases and to 
        promote increased education, awareness, and research into all aspects of 
        autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach; and
Whereas designating May as ``National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month'' 
        would help educate the public about autoimmune diseases and the need for 
        research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
        there should be established a National Autoimmune Diseases 
        Awareness Month;
            (2) the House of Representatives supports the efforts of 
        health care providers and autoimmune patient advocacy and 
        education organizations to increase awareness of the causes of, 
        and treatments for, autoimmune diseases; and
            (3) the House of Representatives supports the goal of 
        increasing Federal funding for aggressive research to learn the 
        root causes of autoimmune diseases, as well as the best 
        diagnostic methods and treatments for people with autoimmune 
        diseases.
                                 <all>
```