[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1863-E1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE FIGHT AGAINST BLINDNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 1998

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute today to a group 
of constitutents whom I am proud to represent.
  ``Some people see things as they are and say `Why?' I see things that 
never were and say `Why not?' '' The words of George Bernard Shaw come 
to mind when I think of the group of wonderful, dedicated constituents 
and friends whom I have had the pleasure of working with on an issue 
critical to millions of Americans. Carlos and Betti Lidsky, Dr. Jaime 
Edelstein, and Dr. Jaime Suchlicki along with the help of other 
dedicated volunteers of the Heart Sight Committee and the Foundation 
Fighting Blindness have spearheaded an effort to bring the issue of 
Retinal Degenerative Diseases to the attention of the American public 
and to raise awareness over the need to fund critical research. Their 
work is tireless, their dedication unwavering, and the message they 
bring to those who suffer with the disease is that someday soon, a cure 
will be found.

[[Page E1864]]

  Scientists have recently made exciting new discoveries in the 
laboratory that have brought us closer to discovering a cure for this 
group of diseases that take the sight of so many Americans. Just 
recently, Dr. Matthew LaVail, along with scientists from the National 
Eye Institute and Regeneron Pharmaceutical Company, made significant 
strides in their research. With ribosyme therapy, researchers have now 
established ``proof of principle'' for two forms of gene therapy. To 
scientists, proof of principle signifies that there is a good basis to 
move current studies to human clinical trials. In previous work, gene 
replacement therapy has slowed retinal degeneration in animals with 
recessive forms of the disease. With these exciting breakthroughs, we 
are at a critical juncture where we need to support these research 
efforts.
  This month, the Heart Sight Committee, headed by Carlos and Betti 
Lidsky, will host ``Party With a Purpose,'' in my Congressional 
district. The event will provide an opportunity to recognize those who 
have contributed to fighting Retinal Degenerative Diseases and to raise 
a portion of the much needed funds to continue research projects, such 
as those of Dr. LaVail and his fellow scientists. The Lidskys and the 
members of the Heart Sight Committee are dedicated to not letting lack 
of research funding be the obstacle to finding a cure. We need to 
support efforts such as these because with our help, there is a cure in 
sight.

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