[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2230-H2231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL GLANZMANN'S THROMBASTHENIA AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res 994) expressing support for designation 
of a National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 994

       Whereas Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia affects men, women, and 
     children of all ages;
       Whereas this disorder is very distressing to those who have 
     it, causing great discomfort and severe emotional stress;
       Whereas children with Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia are unable 
     to participate in many normal childhood activities including 
     most sports and are often subject to social discomfort 
     because of their disorder;
       Whereas Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia includes a wide range of 
     symptoms including life-threatening, uncontrollable bleeding 
     and severe bruising;
       Whereas Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia is frequently 
     misdiagnosed or undiagnosed by medical professionals;
       Whereas currently there is no cure for Glanzmann's 
     Thrombasthenia;
       Whereas it is essential to educate the public on the 
     symptoms, treatments, and constant efforts to cure 
     Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia to insure early diagnosis and 
     treatment of the condition;
       Whereas Helen P. Smith established the Glanzmann's 
     Thrombasthenia Research Foundation in Augusta, Georgia, in 
     2001;
       Whereas Helen P. Smith and the Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia 
     Research Foundation have worked tirelessly to promote 
     awareness of Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia and help fund 
     research on the disorder; and
       Whereas Congress should determine an appropriate day to 
     designate as National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness 
     Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     designation of a National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia 
     Awareness Day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I stand for the consideration of H. Res. 994, as 
amended, which expresses support for the designation of a National 
Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day.
  H. Res. 994 was introduced by Representative Paul Broun of the fine 
State of Georgia on February 25, 2008, and has the support and 
cosponsorship of 57 Members of Congress. The measure was considered by 
the Oversight panel on March 13, 2008, and was passed by voice vote at 
that time after being amended for technical purposes.
  Mr. Speaker, while many people may not be aware of Glanzmann's 
thrombasthenia, which is an extremely rare disorder of the blood where 
the platelets lack glycoprotein, a key element for blood to clot, 
therefore significantly prolonging bleeding time. While on average 
there are only 200 cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia reported every 
year, the disease and finding a cure for it still requires our 
attention, resources and support.
  March 1, 2008, marked the inaugural commemoration of the National

[[Page H2231]]

Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day. The day was celebrated with 
events, receptions and our colleagues in the Senate Chamber passed an 
identical resolution honoring and recognizing the importance of 
National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day.
  I think it is important that we in this body help to expand research 
awareness of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, which is why I rise in support 
of H. Res. 994. Passage of this measure will help to raise the profile 
and the general public's understanding of this illness and the 
corresponding National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day. I urge 
passage of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution urging the 
designation of a National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day. 
Discovered in Switzerland in 1918, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, 
otherwise known as GT, is a rare and serious blood disorder that 
affects men, women, and children of all ages across the globe. The 
disease affects the ability of blood platelets to form, or clot, around 
the site of a broken blood vessel due to a deficiency of a specific 
protein on the surface of the platelet. Since the blood is unable to 
clot normally, those who suffer from GT are faced with uncontrollable, 
potentially life-threatening blood loss and severe bruising.
  A very rare and little known hereditary disease, GT has severe 
emotional and physical effects on those who suffer from it. Children 
with GT often find themselves socially isolated as they are unable to 
participate in normal childhood activities such as sports or physically 
active play.
  There is no cure for this disease, and because it is so rare, there 
is little information on the symptoms and treatments. It is important 
that we support valuable organizations such as the Glanzmann's 
Thrombasthenia Research Foundation, founded by Helen P. Smith in 2001, 
in their effort to educate the public, promote awareness, and fund 
research of this serious disease.

                              {time}  1430

  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution that 
seeks to raise the awareness of this serious, emotionally damaging and 
potentially life-threatening disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Georgia (Mr. Broun).
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago a beautiful young 
lady by the name of Julia Smith and her family came to my office. Julia 
lives in Augusta, Georgia and is a constituent of mine.
  This 9-year-old young lady, when she was first born, was covered with 
bruises. Her parents, of course, were, needless to say, very concerned 
and they asked the doctor about these bruises. The parents were told 
that this was just from a result of a difficult delivery.
  A short time thereafter, Julia had a little scratch on her face that 
resulted in bleeding that covered her whole face and, of course, her 
mom was frantic. The blood tests were normal.
  The family took Julia to the Medical College of Georgia, my alma 
mater. I'm a medical doctor, and so I'm proud of the Medical College of 
Georgia of doing the testing that was required to bring about the 
diagnosis of Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia in Julia.
  Her mom, Helen, was, of course, very distraught and so she started 
researching, trying to find out about this very rare disease. The more 
she searched, the more she realized that there's very little 
information anywhere. And she started meeting other families all around 
the country, whose family members also suffered from GT.
  With the help of a small grant from a private individual, Helen Smith 
founded the Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Research Foundation. And what 
she's doing is trying to find, certainly, the cure of this disease, but 
also searching to try to find ways of informing people who have this 
disease about the disease and help to comfort them. And so it's a 
research foundation that is extremely needed to try to prevent the 
disease symptoms which are uncontrollable bleeding, as well as very 
painful bruising. It's a life-threatening disease.
  But Ms. Smith talked to me about this disease. And as a physician, as 
a Member of Congress, I realized that we really need to bring this 
disease to the forefront so that she can have some help. She's seeking 
for recognition. She's seeking for private grants and private funding 
of her foundation which is very much needed. And hopefully, this young 
lady, Julia Smith, can live a long and fruitful life, and we can find a 
cure to this disease. In fact, the researchers say that there's a 
possibility of finding a cure within a matter of just the next few 
years.
  But without bringing public attention to the disease, Ms. Smith's 
going to continue to struggle to try to get the recognition that she so 
richly deserves for this very rare blood disorder.
  So that's what this bill is all about. It's to promote the awareness 
of Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia. March 1 has been chosen as the day to 
establish the National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day. This 
day was chosen to coincide with the date of the fundraiser for the 
research foundation.
  I want to thank Natalie Stroud of my office and my staff for her 
excellent work on this resolution.
  And I urge my colleagues to vote with me on passage of H. Res. 994.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H. Res. 994, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would urge passage of this 
legislation, and yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 994, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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