[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 44 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March 
2016 as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. This month marks the 30th 
anniversary of President Reagan's declaration of March 1986 as 
Hemophilia Awareness Month.
  One of the most troubling bleeding disorders is hemophilia. 
Hemophilia affects roughly 20,000 people in the U.S. and 1 in 5,000 
newborns. Treating the disorder is complicated, as well as expensive, 
as there is no known cure, and treatment may cost $250,000 a year.
  Another bleeding disorder is Von Willebrand disease, or VWD, which 
results in bruising, nosebleeds, and excessive bleeding following 
surgical procedures. VWD occurs equally in men and women and is 
estimated to affect more than 3 million Americans.
  Through this greater awareness of bleeding disorders, we can work 
toward earlier diagnoses and the prevention of complications, 
unnecessary procedures, and disabilities.

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