[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9094-H9095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING PAUL AND SWANEE DiMARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on October 2, the Dade County Farm 
Bureau is proud to honor Paul and Swanee DiMare, an agriculture 
powerhouse couple hailing from our south Florida community.
  For more than 90 years, the DiMare family has graced south Florida by 
providing some of the best quality produce our Nation has to offer, so 
much, in fact, that they have earned the title of Mr. and Mrs. Tomato.
  But where some may know them for their tasty and nutritious products 
alone, others know them for their world-class philanthropy and public 
service. From protecting our beautiful botanical gardens, to advocating 
for organizations like the Red Cross, Paul and Swanee continue to serve 
as an inspiration to all those who call our slice of paradise home.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize this extraordinary couple, and 
I thank Paul and Swanee for their tireless work in our community.


                  Annual Miami Walk to End Alzheimer's

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Alzheimer's 
Association 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Miami-Dade, being held in 
my congressional district on November 3.
  According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5.7 million 
Americans are battling this brutal condition, 200,000 of whom are under 
the age of 65.

                              {time}  1015

  Moreover, this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in our 
Nation. Sadly, Alzheimer's, currently, cannot be cured, cannot be 
prevented, and cannot be slowed. That is why advocacy and awareness are 
paramount.
  Although scientific and medical advancements to fight the effects of 
dementia have made significant progress, we must not, and we cannot, 
rest. That

[[Page H9095]]

is why this walk is being held to remind us all that the struggle 
continues. Day after day, we must continue to raise the benchmark and 
ensure that progress toward effective treatment and a cure continue.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my south Florida community to soak up some 
Sun--safely--on November 3 for a good cause, and participate in the 
Alzheimer's Association Miami-Dade Walk. Together, we can take the 
first step in a world without Alzheimer's.


                  Raising Awareness of Alopecia Areata

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize September as 
Alopecia Areata Awareness Month.
  Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, resulting in the loss of 
hair on the body, affecting about 7 million Americans. Additionally, of 
the 7 million Americans battling alopecia, almost 15 percent--or just 
over 1 million--are under 12 years of age. This is because alopecia 
often presents itself at an early stage in life, with no warning and no 
prevention to be had. It appears on the skin, most often as one or more 
small, round, smooth patches of hair loss on the scalp, and can 
progress to total hair loss.
  My constituent, Deirdre Nero, first informed me of the effects and 
seriousness of alopecia. Deirdre, who has alopecia, is a legislative 
liaison and secretary of the board for the National Alopecia Areata 
Foundation. Earlier this month, Deirdre and her fellow NAAF 
participants were on Capitol Hill advocating on behalf of a bill, H.R. 
2925, that is called Legislation to Provide Coverage for Wigs As 
Durable Medical Equipment under the Medicare Program. That bill title 
says it all.
  It is a commonsense reform bill that will make a simple change to the 
definition of durable medical equipment under the Social Security Act 
to include cranial prosthetics, alleviating large out-of-pocket 
expenses for patients.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have championed this cause during my time 
in Congress, and I am thankful for the work that the National Alopecia 
Areata Foundation continues to do on behalf of all patients.
  Furthermore, I humbly ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
join me in recognizing Alopecia Areata Awareness Month and support this 
important legislation.

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