[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MILLIONS IN AMERICA SUFFER FROM BLINDNESS

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, over 1 million Americans are legally 
blind and 80 million Americans are at risk for developing diseases that 
potentially can cause blindness. Currently, more than 6 million 
Americans suffer from retinal degenerative diseases. In my State of 
Florida, an estimated 1 million people are affected by these problems.
  My constituents, Ilana Lidsky and her husband Patrick McGuinn, have 
traveled to our Nation's Capitol today to learn about recent gene 
therapy that has actually given sight to Lancelot, a Briard dog born 
with a blinding genetic mutation. This recent National Eye Institute-
supported research that has given sight to Lancelot holds promise for 
children born blind and for persons like Ilana and her siblings who 
suffer from retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that may lead to blindness.

                              {time}  1015

  Today, eye and vision disorders cost society $38 billion every year, 
and this cost will escalate unless existing research opportunities are 
vigorously pursued.
  The Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and the Foundation Fighting 
Blindness are to be congratulated for their gene therapy research that 
will soon find a cure for blindness.

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