[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E356]]
                   RECOGNIZING NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

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                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2005

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as co-Chairman of the Congressional Kidney 
Caucus, I would like to recognize that March is National Kidney Month. 
The Kidney Caucus partners with groups such as the National Kidney 
Foundation to increase public awareness of risk factors for chronic 
kidney disease and emphasize the importance of early detection. Anyone 
with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney 
disease is at risk.
  This March, the National Kidney Foundation is urging all those at 
risk to undergo a kidney screening. Simple urine and blood tests during 
a routine doctor's visit can show the earliest signs of kidney damage. 
According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 20 million 
Americans--that's one in nine adults--have chronic kidney disease. More 
than 20 million more are at increased risk for developing the disease. 
Nearly half of all Americans with chronic kidney disease are unaware of 
their condition.
  Early detection and intervention can halt the progression of the 
disease before it reaches kidney failure, at which point there are no 
other alternatives but dialysis or transplantation. Catching kidney 
disease at an early stage saves patient's lives and saves the taxpayer 
tremendous sums otherwise spent on costly dialysis and transplant 
procedures. Please help me honor National Kidney Month by urging those 
at risk for kidney disease to take this threat seriously and undergo a 
screening.

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