Date: 1983-06-30
Speaker: VANDER JAGT (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. first. may I express my profound thanks and appreciation to the gentlewoman from Indiana. Mrs. KATIE HALL. chairman of the Subcommittee on Census and Population of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. As we all know. Congress oftentimes is accused of not moving expeditiously on legislative issues. Such is not the case involving this legislation. Senate Joint Resolution 34. designating the week of November 7 through November 13. 1983. as "National Reyes Syndrome Week." It was only a few days ago that we were able to collect the necessary number of sponsorsnow totaling nearly 230and so notified Chairman HALL.. In literally a few working hours. I am privileged to be on the floor to thank Chairman HALL. the entire membership of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. especially my Michigan colleague and its chairman. WILLIAM D. FORD. and to seek House passage this afternoon of Senate Joint Resolution 34. I represent. as mentioned earlier. nearly 230 Members of the House who graciously lent their support to this legislation. I would add that it is particularly good to count both Mrs. HALL and BILL FORD as cosponsors. I am ago very pleased to inform you that identical legislation in the Senate. sponsored by Senator DONALD W. RIEGLE. has met with similar success. It is our highest hope that the resolution will truly help to inform all parents of the symptoms and results of Reyes syndrome so that they can prevent serious harm to their children. It is ironic that this year. 1983. marks the 20th anniversary since Dr. Ralph Douglas Reye. an Australian pathologist. first described the symptoms and course of this disease. Even after 20 years. most regrettably. Reyes syndrome remains. to a large extent. a medical mystery. But. two persons. who in my personal interest and involvement in this matter. deserve the greatest credit and recognition of all. would not accept that "mystery." Doris and John Dieckman lost their 11yearold son. John Stewart Elliott Dieckman. to Reyes syndrome on April 12. 1976. Since that time the Dieckmans have devoted fantastic time and effort in the battle against this dreaded disease. Today is a special day for this House of Representatives. but it is an even greater day for the Dieckmans and so many others like them who have carried on a most valiant fight against Reyes syndrome. Their persevurance. along with hundreds of others. has led to the National Reyes Syndrome Foundation. Now. with increased research activity into the cause of RS going on throughout the country at medical research centers. this resolution would be a wonderful complement to boost public interest. awareness. and concern in Reyes syndrome. The activities of National Reyes Syndrome Week will accelerate and generate even greater concern and support in fighting this disease which strikes children. No one really knows the number of victims. One Federal health official believes there may be 1.000 cases a year nationwide. An independent researcher thinks there is a submerged "iceberg" of undiagnosed Reyes that may total several thousand cases a year. But nobody knows for sure. But. to this day. we do know it remains a mystery. No known cause and no preventative. no certain cure. We. here today. are contributingprobably in a most small waybut contributingto give those so involved in this fight the means and the possibility of doing even better in the months and years ahead. I am very proud to be a part of this effort. and I am equally proud of our U.S. House of Representatives in volunteering to help. Mr. Speaker. I withdraw my reservation of objection.