[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             PSORIASIS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the 
serious, debilitating, chronic diseases of psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis, and to urge you to support H.R. 1188, the Psoriasis and 
Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act for 2007--important 
bipartisan legislation that I have introduced with my colleague from 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Gerlach.
  This legislation would be the first ever legislative action to fill 
important gaps in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection and 
research, and is an important step in providing relief to the as many 
as 7.5 million Americans that the National Institutes of Health 
estimates suffer from these noncontagious, genetic auto-immune 
diseases.
  Psoriasis is widely misunderstood, minimized, and undertreated. In 
addition to the pain, itching, and bleeding caused by psoriasis, many 
affected individuals also experience social discrimination and stigma. 
Of serious concern is that people with psoriasis are at elevated risk 
for myriad co-morbidities, including but not limited to, heart disease, 
diabetes, obesity, and mental health conditions. As such, psoriasis and 
psoriatic arthritis impose significant burdens on individuals and 
society; psoriasis alone is estimated to cost the Nation 56 million 
hours of lost work and between $2 billion and $3 billion annually.
  Also, I wish to take a moment to recognize that August is National 
Psoriasis Awareness Month and commend the National Psoriasis 
Foundation, headquartered in my district, for its annual efforts 
surrounding National Psoriasis Awareness Month. Moreover, I thank the 
foundation leaders and staff for working tirelessly each day to help 
our Nation make progress toward a cure and to ensure that people with 
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have access to the care they need and 
deserve.
  On average, each of us has 17,000 constituents with psoriasis. As 
most of us will be at home frequently this fall, I encourage my 
colleagues to meet with affected constituents, learn more about 
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and work to reduce the 
misconceptions surrounding these conditions. I further urge you to join 
with me and the other 82 cosponsors in supporting people living with 
psoriasis by cosponsoring H.R. 1188.

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