III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2005 Mr. Smith (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating August 2005 as Psoriasis Awareness Month.

Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic, immune-mediated diseases for which there is no cure; Whereas more than 5,000,000 men, women, and children in the United States have been diagnosed with either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis; Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are painful and disabling diseases that have a significant and adverse impact on the quality of life of an individual diagnosed with either of these diseases; Whereas the National Institute of Mental Health funded a study that found that psoriasis may cause as much physical and mental disability as other major diseases, including cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and depression; Whereas psoriasis is associated with elevated rates of depression and suicidal ideation; Whereas each year the people of the United States spend more than $4,000,000,000 to treat psoriasis; Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis may help prevent irreversible joint damage; and Whereas treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis presents a challenge for patients and physicians because no 1 treatment works for everyone, some treatments lose effectiveness over time, many treatments are used in combination with other treatments, and all treatments may cause a unique set of side effects: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate designates August 2005 as Psoriasis Awareness Month.