[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING ALICIA SEIDEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 2009

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of a brave 
young girl in my district, Alicia Seidel, and congratulate her for 
being named an honoree at the 2009 Arthritis Walk happening this 
Saturday in Bellevue, Washington, and for living her life so bravely 
while battling her disease.
  Alicia, a ten-year-old fifth grader from Sammamish, Washington, was 
diagnosed in 2007 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Immediately 
before and for some time following the diagnosis, Alicia struggled to 
do something as simple as holding a pencil. Thankfully, the wonderful 
doctors, specialists and staff at Swedish Medical Center and Children's 
Hospital in Seattle worked to alleviate the pain Alicia was under, 
which allowed her to act like the vivacious girl she is. My office had 
the opportunity to meet Alicia and her mom, Cynthia, more than a year 
ago to discuss Alicia's ailment and a photo from that meeting is 
proudly displayed in our office; her infectious nature and sweet 
disposition made a lasting impact.
  The Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act, H.R. 1210, of 2009 is 
legislation I'm proud to have co-sponsored. At this time, the 
legislation is in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and I 
encourage the entire House to act on it as quickly as possible because 
it is an important bill. The bill would, among many other things, focus 
attention on juvenile arthritis research by creating a juvenile 
arthritis database and provide financial incentives to encourage more 
health professionals to enter the field of pediatric rheumatology. 
Additionally, I will continue to work on behalf of young people like 
Alicia to urge Congress to make a long-term, sustained investment in 
medical research through the National Institutes of Health because it 
represents our greatest hope for finding cures and treatments for 
debilitating conditions like arthritis and freeing Alicia and her 
family from the constraints of arthritis.
  On behalf of the House of Representatives, I extend our sincerest 
congratulations to Alicia, for her courageous spirit and the 
inspiration provided to 300,000 other young people struggling with this 
disease today, and our best wishes in the 2009 Arthritis Walk.

                          ____________________