[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 372 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 372

  Designating March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness 
  Month'' and supporting efforts to increase awareness of autoimmune 
     diseases and increase funding for autoimmune disease research.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 8, 2009

Mr. Levin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness 
  Month'' and supporting efforts to increase awareness of autoimmune 
     diseases and increase funding for autoimmune disease research.

Whereas autoimmune diseases are chronic, disabling diseases in which underlying 
        defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own organs and 
        tissues;
Whereas autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the 
        blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, 
        endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life-
        threatening;
Whereas researchers have identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases, and 
        suspect at least 40 additional diseases of qualifying as autoimmune 
        diseases;
Whereas researchers have identified a close genetic relationship and a common 
        pathway of disease that exists among autoimmune diseases, explaining the 
        clustering of autoimmune diseases in individuals and families;
Whereas the family of autoimmune diseases is under-recognized, and poses a major 
        health care challenge to the United States;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that autoimmune 
        diseases afflict up to 23,500,000 people in the United States, 75 
        percent of whom are women, and that the prevalence of autoimmune 
        diseases is rising;
Whereas NIH estimates the annual direct health care costs associated with 
        autoimmune diseases at more than $100,000,000,000, with over 250,000 new 
        diagnoses each year;
Whereas autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in 
        female children and adult women;
Whereas autoimmune diseases most often 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 difficult to diagnose;
Whereas because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, treatment is 
        often delayed, resulting in irreparable organ damage and unnecessary 
        suffering;
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 American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association revealed 
        that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune disease more than 4 
        years, and costs more than $50,000, to get a correct diagnosis;
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, in order to increase understanding of the 
        root causes of these diseases rather treating the symptoms after the 
        disease has already had its destructive effect;
Whereas the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups is a coalition of 
        national organizations focused on autoimmune diseases, working to 
        consolidate the voices of patients with autoimmune diseases and to 
        promote increased education, awareness, and research into all aspects of 
        autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach; and
Whereas designating March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness 
        Month'' would help educate the public about autoimmune diseases and the 
        need for research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune Diseases 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports the efforts of health care providers and 
        autoimmune patient advocacy and education organizations to 
        increase awareness of the causes of, and treatments for, 
        autoimmune diseases; and
            (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for 
        aggressive research to learn the root causes of autoimmune 
        diseases, as well as the best diagnostic methods and treatments 
        for people with autoimmune diseases.
                                 <all>