[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S12713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 372--DESIGNATING MARCH 2010 AS ``NATIONAL AUTOIMMUNE 
DISEASES AWARENESS MONTH'' AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS 
  OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE 
                                RESEARCH

  Mr. LEVIN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 372

       Whereas autoimmune diseases are chronic, disabling diseases 
     in which underlying defects in the immune system lead the 
     body to attack its own organs and tissues;
       Whereas autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the 
     body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous 
     system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and 
     multiple-organ systems, and can be life-threatening;
       Whereas researchers have identified over 80 different 
     autoimmune diseases, and suspect at least 40 additional 
     diseases of qualifying as autoimmune diseases;
       Whereas researchers have identified a close genetic 
     relationship and a common pathway of disease that exists 
     among autoimmune diseases, explaining the clustering of 
     autoimmune diseases in individuals and families;
       Whereas the family of autoimmune diseases is under-
     recognized, and poses a major health care challenge to the 
     United States;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates 
     that autoimmune diseases afflict up to 23,500,000 people in 
     the United States, 75 percent of whom are women, and that the 
     prevalence of autoimmune diseases is rising;
       Whereas NIH estimates the annual direct health care costs 
     associated with autoimmune diseases at more than 
     $100,000,000,000, with over 250,000 new diagnoses each year;
       Whereas autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading 
     causes of death in female children and adult women;
       Whereas autoimmune diseases most often affect children and 
     young adults, leading to a lifetime of disability;
       Whereas diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are 
     not standardized, making autoimmune diseases very difficult 
     to diagnose;
       Whereas because autoimmune diseases are difficult to 
     diagnose, treatment is often delayed, resulting in 
     irreparable organ damage and unnecessary suffering;
       Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies 
     reported that the United States is behind other countries in 
     research into immune system self-recognition, the cause of 
     autoimmune diseases;
       Whereas a study by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases 
     Association revealed that it takes the average patient with 
     an autoimmune disease more than 4 years, and costs more than 
     $50,000, to get a correct diagnosis;
       Whereas there is a significant need for more collaboration 
     and cross-fertilization of basic autoimmune research;
       Whereas there is a significant need for research focusing 
     on the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases, in order 
     to increase understanding of the root causes of these 
     diseases rather treating the symptoms after the disease has 
     already had its destructive effect;
       Whereas the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups 
     is a coalition of national organizations focused on 
     autoimmune diseases, working to consolidate the voices of 
     patients with autoimmune diseases and to promote increased 
     education, awareness, and research into all aspects of 
     autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach; and
       Whereas designating March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune 
     Diseases Awareness Month'' would help educate the public 
     about autoimmune diseases and the need for research funding, 
     accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 2010 as ``National Autoimmune Diseases 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) supports the efforts of health care providers and 
     autoimmune patient advocacy and education organizations to 
     increase awareness of the causes of, and treatments for, 
     autoimmune diseases; and
       (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for 
     aggressive research to learn the root causes of autoimmune 
     diseases, as well as the best diagnostic methods and 
     treatments for people with autoimmune diseases.

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this resolution designates March 2010 as 
National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month. The purpose of the 
resolution is to raise awareness of autoimmune diseases and the need 
for aggressive research to learn the root causes of autoimmune 
diseases, as well as the best diagnostic methods and treatments for 
people with autoimmune diseases.
  Autoimmune diseases are chronic, disabling diseases in which 
underlying defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own 
organs and tissues. They can affect any part of the body--blood, blood 
vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine 
glands, and multiple-organ systems--and can be life-threatening.
  Researchers have identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases, 
including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diabetes, 
Crohn's disease, scleroderma, polymyositis, lupus, Sjogren's disease 
and Graves' disease, and suspect at least 40 additional diseases of 
having an autoimmune basis. The National Institutes of Health estimates 
that autoimmune diseases afflict more than 23 million people in the 
U.S. Seventy-five percent of the people affected with autoimmune 
diseases are women, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases is 
rising. However, the family of autoimmune diseases is underrecognized, 
and this poses a major health care challenge to the U.S.
  Diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases are not standardized, which 
makes autoimmune diseases very difficult to diagnose. Because 
autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, treatment is often 
delayed, resulting in irreparable organ damage and unnecessary 
suffering.
  There is a significant need for more collaboration and cross-
fertilization of basic autoimmune research, with a particular focus on 
the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases in order to increase 
understanding of the root causes of these diseases rather than treating 
the symptoms after the disease has had its destructive effect.
  It is my hope that this resolution will help educate the public about 
autoimmune diseases and the continued need for research towards 
accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments.

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