[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 78 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H3543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw 
attention to Huntington's Disease which affects approximately 30,000 
people in the United States. Each child of a parent with Huntington's 
Disease has a 50 percent risk of inheriting the illness, meaning that 
there are 200,000 individuals who are at risk today. Huntington's 
Disease results from a genetically programmed degeneration of nerve 
cells in certain parts of the brain.

                              {time}  1445

  While medication is available to help control the symptoms of 
Huntington's Disease, sadly, there is no treatment to stop or reverse 
the course of the disease.
  According to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, this 
disease is named for Dr. George Huntington who first described this 
hereditary disorder in 1872. Huntington's Disease is now recognized as 
one of the more common genetic disorders in America. Huntington's 
Disease affects as many people as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis and 
muscular dystrophy.
  Early symptoms of Huntington's Disease may affect cognitive ability 
or mobility and include depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, 
clumsiness, involuntary twitching, and lack of coordination. As the 
disease progresses, concentration and short-term memory diminish and 
involuntary movements of the head, trunk and limbs increase. Walking, 
speaking, and swallowing abilities deteriorate. Eventually the person 
is unable to care for himself or herself. Death follows from 
complications such as choking, infection, or heart failure.
  Huntington's Disease typically begins in mid-life between the ages of 
30 and 45, though onset may occur as early as the age of 2. Children 
who develop the juvenile form of the disease rarely live to adulthood. 
Huntington's Disease affects men and women equally and crosses all 
ethnic and racial boundaries. Everyone who carries the gene will 
develop the disease. In 1993, the Huntington's Disease gene was 
isolated and a direct genetic test developed which can accurately 
determine whether a person carries the Huntington's Disease gene.
  I would like to commend Dr. Ruth Abramson of Columbia, South Carolina 
for her leadership and dedication for conducting ongoing research to 
find a cure for Huntington's Disease at both the University of South 
Carolina School of Medicine and the South Carolina Department of Mental 
Health. I also want to commend my chief of staff, Eric Dell, and his 
courageous mother, Ouida Dell, for their efforts in fighting 
Huntington's Disease within their family.
  I encourage the American people to be aware of their own family 
histories, to be aware of the issues in genetic testing, and to 
advocate for families with Huntington's Disease in their communities. I 
also call on my colleagues in the House to join in this effort to find 
a cure for those suffering from this disease.
  To that extent, I would like to read this concurrent resolution about 
Huntington's Disease which I have introduced in the House of 
Representatives.
  ``Concurrent resolution. Whereas about 30,000 people in the United 
States suffer from Huntington's Disease; whereas each child of a parent 
with Huntington's Disease has a 50 percent risk of inheriting the 
illness; around 200,000 individuals are at risk; whereas Huntington's 
Disease results from a genetically programmed degeneration of nerve 
cells in certain parts of the brain; whereas this degeneration causes 
uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional 
disturbances; whereas presymptomatic testing is available for those 
with a family history of Huntington's Disease, and medication is 
available to help control the symptoms, yet there is no treatment to 
stop or reverse the course of the disease; whereas Congress as an 
institution and Members of Congress as individuals are in unique 
positions to help raise public awareness about the need for increased 
funding for research, detection, and treatment of Huntington's Disease 
and to support the fight against this disease:
  ``Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the 
Senate concurring), that it is the sense of the Congress that 
subsection 1, all Americans should take an active role in the fight 
against Huntington's Disease by any means available to them, including 
being aware of their own family history, being aware of the issues in 
genetic testing, and advocating for families with Huntington's Disease 
in their communities and their States;
  ``Section 2, the role played by national community organizations and 
health care providers in promoting awareness should be recognized and 
applauded;
  ``And section 3, the Federal Government has a responsibility to, A, 
endeavor to raise awareness about the detection and treatment of 
Huntington's Disease; and B, increase funding for research so that a 
cure might be found.''
  Mr. Speaker, as May marked Huntington's Disease Awareness Month, we 
must do everything possible to ensure we search out hope for thousands 
of Americans by finding a cure for this disease.

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