[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY AND THEIR NOBLE CAUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, every hour in the United States someone 
new is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It is a lasting disease which 
attacks the central nervous system, and can be extremely disabling. 
This week the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is in town to promote 
awareness of people living with MS--approximately 400,000 Americans and 
2.5 million people worldwide.
  Many Americans know a person living with multiple sclerosis, a mother 
or father, a son or daughter, another family member or friend, or maybe 
even a colleague. For me, it was a member of my staff. This brave and 
strong woman inspired me to get more involved in the battle to live in 
a world free of multiple sclerosis.
  As a medical doctor prior to coming to Congress, I'm working to find 
sensible solutions for the health care challenges that Americans face. 
As the co-chair of the newly formed Congressional Multiple Sclerosis 
Caucus, I intend to bring the needs of those individuals into the 
larger discussion of quality health care.
  Madam Speaker, we must work together to improve access to quality 
health services, to break down barriers, and to make MS therapies more 
affordable. I ask other Members of the House to join me in this noble 
cause. We must always remember that behind every statistic is the face 
of a family member or friend. We have a shared responsibility to offer 
help and hope. There is no better time than now to begin offering it.

                          ____________________