[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6985-H6986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL MYOSITIS AWARENESS DAY
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 974) supporting the goals and
ideals of National Myositis Awareness Day.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 974
Whereas an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people are affected
by myositis in the United States, many of whom remain
undiagnosed or misdiagnosed;
Whereas myositis is a general term used to describe
swelling of the muscles, but the effects of the inflammatory
myopathies (often referred to as ``myositis'') are much more
severe than just inflammation;
Whereas myositis patients suffer from their immune systems
attacking their body's own normal, healthy tissue, resulting
in inflammation or swelling;
Whereas inflammatory myopathies are thought to be
autoimmune diseases, such that the body's immune system,
which normally fights infections and viruses, does not stop
fighting once the infection or virus is gone;
Whereas myositis can cause muscle weakness, and patients
often live in chronic pain and have long-term health problems
that lead to permanent disability;
Whereas myositis is difficult to diagnose and treatment is
often delayed, resulting in unnecessary suffering;
Whereas many patients with treatable forms of myositis
often have severe long-term disabilities because of failure
to diagnose and/or treat the disease correctly;
Whereas some myositis patients will die at a much earlier
age than they would have if they had received the proper
care, particularly for the children who have permanent
scarring and deformities due to failure to treat properly;
Whereas The Myositis Association, the national patient
advocacy organization serving the myositis patient community,
focuses its efforts on public policy, research funding,
patient services, and public awareness and education related
to developing effective treatments and a cure for myositis;
Whereas a National Myositis Awareness Day would educate
communities across the Nation about myositis and the need for
research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective
treatments; and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe September 21,
2006, as National Myositis Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the
goals and ideals of a National Myositis Awareness Day.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van
Hollen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 974, introduced by the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Israel), would support the goals and ideals of National Myositis
Awareness Day.
Myositis is a general term used to describe swelling of the muscles.
It is listed as a rare disease by the National Institutes of Health's
Office of Rare Diseases. Many people, however, are affected by the
condition each year. It is estimated there are between 30,000 and
50,000 cases in the United States alone.
This resolution will help to raise awareness to medical
professionals, elected officials, policymakers, and communities about
myositis.
Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to adopt this.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I want to congratulate our colleague, Mr. Israel, from New York for
introducing this important resolution and drawing attention to this
very, very important issue.
With that, I yield him such time as he may consume.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Maryland, and I thank
Chairman Davis for his cooperation on this very important bill. I also
want to thank Ranking Member Waxman for considering this resolution,
and also Representative Foxx for her leadership.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution supports the goals and ideals of a
National Myositis Awareness Day. I was first introduced to the myositis
community through my work to improve Medicare access to intravenous
immune globulin, or IVIG. The myositis community is one of many patient
groups that rely on IVIG. However, since there are several forms of
myositis that affect different people in different ways, the disease is
often misunderstood and cannot be treated with a single remedy. This is
one of many reasons that it is important that we pass this resolution.
As the chairman said, each year an estimated 30,000 to 50,000
Americans
[[Page H6986]]
are affected by myositis, a general term used to describe swelling of
the muscles. Myositis patients suffer from their immune systems
attacking their body's own normal tissue, resulting in inflammation or
swelling. The disease can cause muscle weakness, and patients often
live in chronic pain and have long-term health problems that can lead
to permanent disabilities.
Myositis affects individuals of all ages and can come in many
different forms. Many patients with treatable forms of myositis often
have severe long-term disabilities because of failure to diagnose and
treat the disease. In addition, the effects of inflammatory myopathies
are much more severe than just inflammation. They are thought to be
autoimmune diseases such as that the body's immune system, which
normally fights infections and viruses, does not stop fighting once the
infection or virus is gone.
Mr. Speaker, because myositis varies so much from patient to patient,
no single existing treatment works for everyone. Myositis can be
treated with steroids, various medicines and intravenous immune
globulin.
The Myositis Association is the national patient advocacy
organization serving the myositis community and has designated
September 21 as Myositis Awareness Day. Myositis advocates traveled to
Capitol Hill last Thursday in an effort to educate the public and
Congress on the need for more research funding, accurate diagnosis, and
effective treatments for this disease. This resolution thanks them for
their work and dedicates the United States Congress to continuing the
research for treatments.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, let me just again commend Mr. Israel of
New York for his leadership on this issue and bringing attention to the
disease myositis.
Again, as he said, it is important as we raise national awareness
about these diseases that we also provide the resources necessary to
the NIH and other researchers who are doing important work to find
cures and treatments for these diseases. It is absolutely essential
that we invest as a Nation in that very important effort and provide
them with the resources they need.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
But I want to commend the gentleman from New York for bringing this
resolution to our attention. When we saw it, we moved it very, very
quickly. This is important, and we appreciate his leadership, and also
my friend from Maryland.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge my
colleagues to support the resolution.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 974.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________