[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 39 (Thursday, March 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KLEIN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2009

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H. Con. Res. 14, supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 
Awareness Week. More than 400,000 Americans live with multiple 
sclerosis. This disease knows no gender, age, or ethnic boundaries. It 
strikes all in our society, even our children, with an estimated 8,000 
to 10,000 who live with this terrible disease, by attacking the central 
nervous system. Symptoms, progress, and severity of the disease vary 
widely from patient to patient. Some can lead normal lives with 
symptoms like numbness in the limbs while others can be stricken with 
paralysis or blindness.
  Mr. Speaker, I think everyone here can say that they know someone 
with MS. My wife and I know a number of people in our community in 
South Florida that are currently affected.
  Despite the prevalence of this terrible disease, we are still a long 
way off before a cure is found. We still don't know what causes MS and 
have no definitive way to diagnose it. Physicians are forced to use a 
combination of diagnostic strategies, which includes ruling out all 
other possible diagnoses. The result is that patients can go months, if 
not years, without a definitive understanding of what's causing their 
debilitating symptoms.
  Mr. Speaker, we must find a cure. As we have seen with other diseases 
where we have made major advances in treatment, progress starts with 
awareness in all levels of society and government. That's why the 
concurrent resolution that we are considering today is so important. 
Not only does it recognize the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 
Awareness Week, but it reaffirms our national commitment to finding a 
cure.
  I am proud to support this resolution. I thank my colleague from 
California, Ms. Lee, along with Mr. Carnahan and Dr. Burgess, for 
introducing this resolution, and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on 
final passage.

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