[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PREVENTION, AWARENESS, AND RESEARCH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE (PARAID) ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing along with my 
colleague Representative Cliff Stearns, the Prevention, Awareness, and 
Research Autoimmune Disease (PARAID) Act.
  I am introducing this legislation to address the critical issue of 
autoimmune diseases in our population. The National Institutes of 
Health (NIH) estimates that between 14 and 23.5 million Americans have 
an autoimmune disease and the prevalence is rising. Seventy-five 
percent of those afflicted are women with most cases occurring during 
the childbearing years. The chronic nature of these diseases accounts 
for its incredible cost to the individual and staggering drain on our 
nation's healthcare resources. The National Institutes of Health 
estimates that annual direct health care costs for autoimmune disease 
are in the range of $100 billion.
  Autoimmune diseases encompass more than 100 interrelated diseases, 
such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's 
syndrome, polymyositis, pemphigus, myasthenia gravis, Wegener's 
granulomatosis, psoriasis, celiac disease, autoimmune platelet 
disorders, scleroderma, alopecia areata, vitiligo, autoimmune thyroid 
disease, and sarcoidosis. Basic research into the mechanism that drives 
the autoimmune response is the fundamental knowledge needed to cure 
many of these diseases.
  This legislation will increase awareness of autoimmune diseases, 
increase research on environmental triggers of autoimmune diseases, 
enhance education on the relationship between autoimmune and mental 
illness, and provide loan repayment for physician research on 
autoimmune disease. This support will help alleviate the suffering of 
millions of Americans, who suffer every day with the symptoms of these 
diseases, many times unable to fully participate in their work and 
family life as a result.
  For these reasons, I urge you to give full consideration of this bill 
as quickly s possible.

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