[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING NIH FUNDING FOR DYSTONIA RESEARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of NIH 
funding for research to better understand the causes and treatments for 
dystonia.
  My longtime friend Howard Thiel visited last week to tell me more 
about the problem of dystonia; Howard experienced severe pain and 
disability from this condition for nine years.
  Although he is now benefiting from effective treatment, he helped me 
better understand the problems of the many Americans who suffer from 
conditions of abnormal muscle tone. In compelling terms, he described 
the pain, disability and suffering they experience. From spasmodic 
dystonia of the neck, to spasmodic dysphonia of the vocal cords, and 
generalized whole body dystonia, these various conditions all involve 
distressing, often exquisitely painful difficulties with muscle tone.
  As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has noted, ``Dystonia is the third most 
common neurological movement disorder behind Parkinson's and Tremors.'' 
Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer with this little known 
disorder. As we consider the difficult budget priorities confronting us 
in 2007, I ask you to give serious consideration to increased NIH 
support for research on neurological conditions like dystonia.

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