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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 420 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 420

Expressing the sense of the Senate that effective treatment and access 
 to care for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should 
                              be improved.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 3, 2006

  Mr. Smith (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that effective treatment and access 
 to care for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should 
                              be improved.

Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are serious, chronic, inflammatory, 
        disfiguring, and life-altering diseases that require sophisticated 
        medical intervention and care;
Whereas, according to the National Institutes of Health, between 5,800,000 
        citizens and 7,500,000 citizens of the United States are affected by 
        psoriasis;
Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are--

    (1) painful and disabling diseases with no cure; and

    (2) diseases that have a significant and adverse impact on the quality 
of life of individuals diagnosed with them;

Whereas studies have indicated that psoriasis may cause as much physical and 
        mental disability as other major diseases, including--

    (1) cancer;

    (2) arthritis;

    (3) hypertension;

    (4) heart disease;

    (5) diabetes; and

    (6) depression;

Whereas studies have shown that psoriasis is associated with elevated rates of 
        depression and suicidal ideation;
Whereas citizens of the United States spend between $2,000,000,000 and 
        $3,000,000,000 to treat psoriasis each year;
Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis may help prevent 
        irreversible joint damage;
Whereas treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis presents a challenge for 
        patients and health care providers because--

    (1) no single treatment works for every patient diagnosed with the 
disease;

    (2) some treatments lose effectiveness over time; and

    (3) all treatments have the potential to cause a unique set of side 
effects;

Whereas, although safer and more effective treatments are now more readily 
        available, many people do not have access to them; and
Whereas Congress as an institution, and the members of Congress as individuals, 
        are in a unique position to help raise public awareness about the need 
        for increased access to effective treatment options for psoriasis and 
        psoriatic arthritis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes--
                    (A) the need for enhanced public awareness of 
                psoriasis;
                    (B) the adverse impact that psoriasis can have on 
                people living with the disease; and
                    (C) the importance of an early diagnosis and proper 
                treatment of psoriasis;
            (2) supports the continuing leadership provided by the 
        Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Director 
        of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and 
        Skin Diseases for identifying a cure and developing safer, more 
        effective treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; and
            (3) encourages--
                    (A) researchers to examine the negative 
                psychological and physical effects of psoriasis to 
                better understand its impact on those who have been 
                diagnosed with the disease; and
                    (B) efforts to increase access to treatments and 
                care that individuals living with psoriasis and 
                psoriatic arthritis need and deserve.
                                 <all>
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