[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of May 
as National Huntington's Disease Awareness month.
  As some of you may know, Huntington's Disease is a genetic, 
neurodegenerative disease that causes total physical and mental 
deterioration over a 10 to 25 year period.
  It is a rare disease, affecting 30,000 Americans and places another 
200,000 at risk of inheriting it from an affected parent. Because it is 
a genetic disorder, Huntington's Disease profoundly affects the lives 
of entire families--emotionally, socially and financially.
  This devastating disease has no treatment or cure and slowly 
diminishes an individual's ability to walk, talk, and to reason. 
Eventually, every person with Huntington's Disease becomes totally 
dependent upon others for care.
  In my home State of California there are more than 117,000 
individuals impacted by Huntington's Disease.
  Last year, Congressman Bilbray and I introduced H.R. 678, the 
Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2009.
  This legislation does two things. First, it directs the Social 
Security Administration to revise and update the medical criteria for 
determining disability benefits for people with HD.
  The second part of the legislation removes the 2-year waiting period 
before receiving Medicare benefits. This allows individuals to receive 
the treatment and care they desperately need.
  In honor of National Huntington's Disease Awareness Month, I urge my 
fellow members of Congress to support H.R. 678 and help families across 
the Nation receive the critical benefits they need and deserve.

                          ____________________