[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH

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                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lupus Awareness 
Month. As co-chair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, I am honored to 
help raise awareness of lupus throughout the month of May.
  Despite affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans--approximately 
90 percent of whom are women--lupus is not very well known. And for 
those who have heard of the disease, it is much more widespread than 
most realize.
  Lupus is a chronic illness that can affect any organ in the body. It 
occurs when the immune system is out of balance, damaging the body's 
organs and tissues. Most puzzling, no two lupus patients experience the 
same symptoms. Thus, a variety of medications are used to treat the 
disease since its manifestations vary dramatically between cases. Many 
symptoms of Lupus mimic those of other illnesses, and can change over 
time, making diagnosis difficult. Consequently, diagnoses of Lupus can 
take up to four years and require visits to more than three physicians.
  My goal in founding the Congressional Lupus Caucus was to raise 
awareness and help further research efforts in regard to this little 
understood, life-threatening disease. Researchers are working to better 
understand the disease's complexity and are making great strides in 
finding effective treatments. Today, there are more than two dozen 
potential drugs for lupus in the development pipeline. Because of 
research, initiatives such as Lupus Awareness Month, and other 
grassroots efforts, more and more people with lupus are leading 
healthier lives and living longer than at any time in history.
  I am proud to report that in my home state of Massachusetts, 
excellent resources are available to those affected by lupus. These 
resources include a support group at the Bourne Council on Aging and a 
state-of-the-art Lupus Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
  Despite local successes, Federal funding for advocacy and research 
remains critical. Increased funding will lead to improved knowledge of 
the disease and earlier and more accurate diagnoses, helping to improve 
disease management, diminish adverse effects, and increase quality of 
life for individuals living with lupus. I pledge to continue to raise 
awareness and do what I can to secure the resources needed to build 
upon the steady strides already achieved in lupus research and 
development. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to continue to support 
lupus research and treatment and to help spread the word about this 
disease.

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