[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LUPUS, A HARMFUL AND RAVAGING DISEASE

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 1997

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, recently, Congresswoman Carrie Meek 
and I hosted a forum at Jackson Memorial Hospital to talk about a 
disease, lupus, that burdens the lives of almost 2 million Americans, 
striking 1 out of every 185 Americans. Moreover, although this disease 
can affect individuals at any age, and in either sex, 90 percent of 
those who suffer from this ravaging disease are women.
  Lupus is not an equal opportunity illness. It not only targets women, 
but African-American and Hispanic women face an increased threat--as 
many as three times over.
  Lupus, whose name comes from the facial rash it produces, is an 
autoimmune disease, where instead of protecting itself against viruses, 
bacteria, and other foreign materials, the body makes antibodies 
against itself. It is in a class of illnesses that includes forms of 
diabetes, arthritis and, according to recent research, many also 
include a number of conditions such as Parkinsons. All of these 
illnesses occur when the immune system ends up attacking the very body 
it is supposed to defend.
  Although this devastating disease is not infectious, rare, or 
cancerous and it ranges from mild to life-threatening, the reality is 
that thousands of Americans die with lupus each year. Moreover, while 
many other chronic diseases make the headlines, lupus affects more 
individuals than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell 
anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined.
  Even though the outlook for lupus patients has greatly improved, 
there is still a need for increased research. Therefore, I am proud to 
be a cosponsor of Carrie Meek's bill, H.R. 1111, legislation which will 
increase research funded through the National Institutes of Health from 
$33 million last year to $50 million for the next fiscal year and would 
make an additional $50 million available to State and local 
governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to assist with 
providing essential services to low-income individuals with lupus.
  While improvements in medication can allow those afflicted to look 
forward to a normal life span, there is still much work to be done in 
education and research. It is my hope that this legislation will hasten 
the day when lupus is nothing more than a bad memory.
  I implore my colleagues to take an active role during Lupus Awareness 
Month and sign onto H.R. 1111, which 84 of my colleagues have already 
cosponsored, so that those 2 million Americans afflicted with lupus 
will have a fighting chance of battling this harmful and ravaging 
disease.

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