IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1160 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2020 as ‘‘Pain Awareness Month’’ and recognizing the disproportionate impact of migraine 

disease and headache disorders on women. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 

Ms. DEAN (for herself and Mrs. LAWRENCE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2020 

as ‘‘Pain Awareness Month’’ and recognizing the disproportionate impact of migraine disease and headache 

disorders on women. 

Whereas approximately 36,000,000 Americans live with migraine disease, more than have asthma or diabetes combined, and 6,000,000 Americans experience chronic migraine, a highly disabling neurological disorder and the 

second-leading cause of global disability; 

Whereas a migraine attack can cause severe throbbing pain 

or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head, 

which is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smells; 


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•HRES 1160 IH 

Whereas migraine attacks can last for hours to days, with 

pain so severe that it interferes with daily activities and 

quality of life; 

Whereas the pain of cluster headache attacks is one of the 

most excruciating human experiences; 

Whereas persons living with migraine disease and headache 

disorders also experience significant stigma, often coming 

from friends, family, and coworkers; 

Whereas migraine disease affects approximately 28,000,000 

women in the United States, and 85 percent of those 

with chronic migraine are women; 

Whereas migraine disease and headache disorders are not 

only physical conditions that require living with chronic 

pain, but there is also the constant worry that these attacks can strike at any moment, taking an emotional toll 

and increasing the likelihood of anxiety and depression; 

Whereas differences in diagnosis and treatment of headache 

and migraine disorders in Black, indigenous, and people 

of color communities may indicate racial and ethnic disparities in access and quality of care for these patients; 

Whereas the physical pain of women is routinely dismissed by 

medical professionals and society as a whole, contributing 

to their pain and the cascading effects therefrom; 

Whereas the physical pain of women of color is routinely dismissed by medical professionals and society as a whole, 

contributing to their pain and the cascading effects therefrom; 

Whereas studies have shown that racial bias can affect how 

doctors assess and treat pain, including a 2016 study 

that showed trainees who believed that Black people are 


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not as sensitive to pain as White people were less likely 

to treat Black people’s pain appropriately; 

Whereas migraine disease is three times more common in 

women, reaching peak prevalence between 30 and 39 

years of age, at a time when many women are rapidly 

growing in their career and balancing work, family, and 

social obligations, further contributing to the wage gap; 

Whereas women account for a large majority of the estimated 

$78,000,000,000 in migraine-associated economic costs 

in the United States, representing about 80 percent of 

both direct medical costs and lost labor costs including 

presenteeism and absenteeism; 

Whereas migraine disease has significant negative consequences for individuals, their families, and society as a 

whole; 

Whereas the National Institutes for Health (NIH) funded 

less than $40,000,000 in headache disorders research in 

fiscal year 2019, amounting to 0.1 percent of the total 

NIH budget, and comparisons with NIH funding of other 

diseases of similar disability and disease burden indicate 

that funding of headache disorders research should instead exceed $200,000,000 each year; 

Whereas migraine disease and cluster headache are disabling 

diseases but largely symptomatic, without reliable diagnostic physical signs or lab findings, meaning that Federal regulations prohibiting claimant symptoms from supporting SSDI/SSI eligibility as medically determinable 

impairments in sequential evaluation unfairly prevent 

their inclusion; and 

Whereas access to relief from cluster headache is often 

inexplicably limited by lack of insurance and Medicare 


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coverage of safe and effective oxygen therapy: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘Pain Awareness Month’’ in order to highlight invis4 ible diseases like migraine and headache disorders 

5 which have a disproportionate impact on women; 

6 (2) emphasizes the need for additional Federal 

7 support for migraine disease and headache dis8 orders, including increased Federal research fund9 ing, access to treatment options and diagnostic 

10 methods including telemedicine, and economic incen11 tives for additional employer accommodations; and 

12 (3) recognizes and reaffirms a commitment to 

13 public education about migraine disease and head14 ache disorders to reduce stigma. 

Æ 


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