[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4765-S4766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CHRONIC DISEASE DAY

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize July 10 as 
Chronic Disease Day and to call attention to the unique healthcare 
needs of patients from this diverse community. This date is significant 
due to the fact that it represents the 7 out of 10 Americans who will 
succumb to some form of chronic illness. Governors and State 
legislatures across the country will be

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working with local chronic disease patient advocates on July 10 to 
highlight contemporary challenges and opportunities, and I encourage my 
colleagues to join in this effort.
  Chronic illness includes cancers, cardiovascular disease, and many 
other conditions, some very rare. Some chronic illnesses can be 
preventable, and Chronic Disease Day is an opportunity to feature 
healthy lifestyles, the importance of regular health screenings, and 
proper self-care. In this regard, awareness and education can go a long 
way towards improving patient outcomes, preventing the progression of 
disease, and lowering healthcare costs.
  Many chronic illnesses are unavoidable though and have genetic 
components or are simply idiopathic with an unknown origin. These 
include rare and life-threatening conditions that require near constant 
access to life-sustaining care or therapies. These patient occasionally 
rely on voluntary charitable assistance programs to maintain this 
access when they have no other options.
  July 10 is a time to promote the importance of preventing chronic 
disease while reflecting on opportunities to better serve individuals 
and families facing serious chronic illness. I call on my colleagues to 
please join me in recognizing Chronic Disease Day.

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