[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING PHIL KEOGHAN ON HIS AMAZING RIDE ACROSS AMERICA TO RAISE 
                            AWARENESS OF MS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure to meet 
Phil Keoghan host of CBS's Amazing Race as he stopped in Washington, 
DC, on his way from Los Angeles to New York. His journey across America 
by bike is designed to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis--a disease 
I feel strongly about educating people and promoting research for 
treatment and cures.
  MS is a disease that can stop people from moving--something many of 
us take for granted each day. Too little is known about MS, too few 
treatments exist and too many people struggle to access the treatments 
they are prescribed. During his journey across the United States Phil 
has climbed many hills and faced downpours of rain, all designed to 
support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
  As co-chair of the Congressional MS Caucus I have had the privilege 
of meeting many inspirational people like Phil Keoghan who are working 
on behalf of people living with MS. The awareness he and others have 
brought to multiple sclerosis and cycling as a healthy activity is 
invaluable. I am pleased of the work the MS Caucus has been able to do 
in just a short amount of time, but there is certainly still more to be 
done.
  As we in Congress debate health care reform it is important to keep 
in mind that the current system is broken for millions of Americans, 
specifically over 45 million Americans without coverage, and it must be 
fixed now. Everyone is deserving of the right to affordable and 
accessible health care--something Phil has championed.
  We have a lot of work ahead of us but we have great momentum. 
Inspirational activists like Phil Keoghan will help make sure that we 
do something about MS now. I congratulate Phil for undertaking this 
worthwhile challenge and wish him luck in his final days in his trip 
across the U.S.

                          ____________________