[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 148 (Thursday, October 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  INTERNATIONAL PLASMA AWARENESS WEEK

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                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 2015

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, International Plasma Awareness Week will 
occur October 11 to 17, 2015. Around the world, there will be 
observances to raise global awareness of the crucial need for plasma to 
create lifesaving therapies, recognize that plasma donors contribute 
greatly in saving and improving lives, and increase understanding of 
the many rare diseases and plasma protein therapies that help to treat 
them.
  Plasma-derived therapies and recombinant blood clotting factors, 
collectively known as plasma protein therapies, are unique, biologic 
medicines that are either infused or injected to treat a variety of 
rare, life-threatening, chronic, and genetic diseases including 
bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies, pulmonary disorders, 
neurological disorders, shock and trauma, liver cirrhosis, and 
infectious diseases such as tetanus, hepatitis, and rabies.
  Plasma-derived therapies save and improve lives of individuals 
throughout the world, including in emergency and surgical medicine. 
Plasma protein therapies have significantly improved the quality of 
life, markedly improved patient outcomes, and extended the life 
expectancy of individuals with rare, chronic diseases and conditions.
  Healthy, committed donors provide the plasma essential to manufacture 
these lifesaving therapies; and there are more than 450 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, honoring 
those committed donors and collection centers who make and collect 
needed and lifesaving contributions.

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