IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 225 
Supporting the designation of March as ‘‘Autoimmune Awareness Month’’ 
and supporting efforts to increase awareness of autoimmune diseases 
and increase funding for autoimmune disease research. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 14, 2025 
Ms. STEVENS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the designation of March as ‘‘Autoimmune 
Awareness Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase 
awareness of autoimmune diseases and increase funding 
for autoimmune disease research. 
Whereas researchers have identified that the category of 
autoimmune diseases includes more than 100 diseases 
that are chronic and in many cases debilitating, with no 
known cures; 
Whereas autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the 
body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous 
system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and mul-
tiple organ systems, and can be life-threatening; 
Whereas researchers have identified a close genetic relation-
ship and a common pathway of disease that exists among 
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•HRES 225 IH 
autoimmune diseases, explaining the clustering of auto-
immune diseases in individuals and families; 
Whereas the family of autoimmune diseases is underrecog-
nized, and poses a major health care challenge to the 
United States; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health estimates that 
autoimmune diseases afflict up to 50,000,000 people in 
the United States, 80 percent of the people affected are 
women, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases is ris-
ing; 
Whereas autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading 
causes of death in women under 65; 
Whereas autoimmune diseases frequently 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 dif-
ficult to diagnose; 
Whereas, because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diag-
nose, treatment is often delayed, sometimes resulting in 
irreparable damage and unnecessary suffering, making 
early diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases 
critical; 
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 Autoimmune Association revealed 
that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune 
disease more than 4.5 years to get a correct diagnosis; 
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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 in-
crease understanding of the root causes of these diseases 
rather than treating the symptoms after the disease has 
had its destructive effect; and 
Whereas designating March as ‘‘Autoimmune Awareness 
Month’’ would help educate the public about autoimmune 
diseases and the need for research funding, accurate di-
agnosis, and effective treatments: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Autoimmune 
Awareness Month’’; 
(2) supports the efforts of health care providers 
and autoimmune patient advocacy and education or-
ganizations to increase awareness of the causes of, 
and treatments for, autoimmune diseases; and 
(3) supports the goal of increasing funding for 
aggressive research to learn the root causes of auto-
immune diseases, as well as the best diagnostic 
methods and treatments for people with autoimmune 
diseases. 
Æ 
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