[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 132 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL SPINAL CORD INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 2013

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues may be aware, September 
2013 is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. This month gives 
us a valuable opportunity to call attention to this issue and what we 
can do to support people living with spinal cord injuries.
  There are approximately 270,000 people living with spinal cord 
injuries in the United States. In particular, an estimated 100,000 of 
those people are veterans who sustained a spinal cord injury while 
serving as members of the Armed Forces of the United States.
  Approximately 12,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. each 
year. In fact, every 48 seconds in our country, a person becomes 
paralyzed. A majority of these injuries occur from work-related 
accidents, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries and falls.
  The impact of spinal cord injuries is felt throughout our society. 
The estimated lifetime medical cost of a spinal cord injury can range 
from $1 million to $5 million, depending on the level of injury, and 
the ripple effects can be felt throughout other sectors, such as 
housing, job training and transportation.
  Increased education and investment in research are key factors in 
improving outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Better 
treatments, therapies and access to the right equipment and services 
can go far toward both improving their quality of life and ultimately 
finding a cure for these injuries.
  Throughout this month, awareness efforts have been taking place 
across the country to highlight the need to expand and build support 
for programs and initiatives that help people with spinal cord 
injuries.
  I thank everyone who has participated in this month's activities, and 
I applaud the dedication of local, regional and national organizations, 
as well as the researchers, physicians, volunteers and people across 
the United States who are working to improve the quality of life of 
individuals and their families living with spinal cord injuries.
  My hope is that we not only continue to make progress in this field, 
but that we also take every opportunity to elevate this issue and work 
toward finding solutions to help these thousands of people. I hope my 
colleagues will all join me in recognizing National Spinal Cord Injury 
Awareness Month.

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