[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 102 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1588]]
                  TRIBUTE TO PSORIASIS AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of August as 
Psoriasis Awareness Month and to speak on behalf of the 7.5 million 
Americans who are afflicted with this disease.
  Those affected by psoriasis suffer from chronic, inflammatory, 
painful, disfiguring and disabling skin irritations referred to as 
scales that can cover anywhere from small patches of skin to entire 
sections of their body. Many of those who have psoriasis also suffer 
from psoriatic arthritis, which causes severe stiffness and swelling of 
the joints. Psoriasis typically develops between the ages of 15 and 25, 
and while there are varied treatments, there is no cure for this 
disease.
  This auto-immune disease has become both a burden on the individual 
and society. Many people afflicted with psoriasis battle social 
discrimination and stigma because psoriasis is mistakenly thought of as 
a contagious disease, and sometimes patients needlessly have incorrect 
or delayed diagnosis. Also, it is estimated that psoriasis and 
psoriatic arthritis cost the nation 56 million hours of lost work and 
between $2 billion and $3 billion in treatments each year.
  I would like to thank the National Psoriasis Foundation, whose 
national headquarters is located in Oregon. Their tireless work has 
brought the struggle of those affected by psoriasis and the need for 
more psoriasis research through the National Institutes of Health, NIH, 
to combat this disease to light. Their message of awareness they 
brought to our offices has been helpful and has worked to elevate 
understanding of this diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, too many people in this country needlessly suffer from 
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We must work to decrease the amount 
of incorrect or delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatments and 
insufficient access to care. I am ready to work with my constituents, 
the National Psoriasis Foundation and my colleagues to elevate the 
awareness of psoriasis and expansion of research of effective 
treatments for this debilitating disease.

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