[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  INTERNATIONAL PLASMA AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2014

  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate International Plasma 
Awareness Week, which will occur October 12 to 18, 2014. During this 
time, there will be observances throughout the United States and Europe 
designed to raise global awareness of the need for plasma to create 
lifesaving therapies, recognize the value that plasma donors contribute 
in saving and improving lives, and increase understanding of rare 
diseases and plasma protein therapies.
  Raising awareness about plasma protein therapies is vitally important 
for the following reasons:
  Plasma-derived therapies and recombinant blood clotting factors, 
collectively known as plasma protein therapies, are unique, biological 
products for which no substitutes or alternative treatments exist. They 
save and improve lives of individuals throughout the world;
  Plasma protein therapies are used to treat bleeding disorders, 
primary immune deficiency diseases, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and 
certain rare, neurological disorders;
  These therapies are also used in emergency and surgical medicine to 
save and improve lives;
  Plasma protein therapies have significantly improved the quality of 
life of, markedly improved patient outcomes for, and extended the life 
expectancy of individuals with rare, chronic diseases and conditions;
  Healthy, committed donors provide plasma essential to manufacture 
these lifesaving therapies; and
  There are over 430 plasma collection centers in the U.S. that have 
demonstrated their commitment to plasma donor and patient safety and 
quality by earning International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) 
certification.
  I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me and 
rise in commemoration of International Plasma Awareness Week, a time 
dedicated to raising awareness about crucial, lifesaving therapies 
attained through using plasma proteins.

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