[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 161 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL PLASMA AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 2, 2023

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and support 
International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW), October 2-6, both in the 
United States and around the world. Patients across the globe rely on 
medicines made from donated human plasma to lead productive, healthy 
lives. The need for plasma donation is ongoing--plasma is the starting 
ingredient for numerous lifesaving therapies to treat individuals 
living with rare diseases. This week, patients, plasma donors, and 
plasma donation centers will join together to raise global awareness of 
the crucial need for plasma, recognize the contributions of plasma 
donors, and call attention to the many rare diseases treated with 
plasma protein therapies.
  Donors and patients alike will observe IPAW through a range of events 
seeking to enhance awareness of plasma-derived therapies and 
recombinant analogs, collectively known as plasma protein therapies. 
These are unique biologic medicines that are either infused or injected 
to treat a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic, and genetic 
diseases. This includes bleeding disorders, hereditary angioedema, 
immune deficiencies, pulmonary disorders, neurological disorders, and 
infectious diseases such as tetanus, hepatitis, and rabies.
  Plasma protein therapies have significantly improved the quality of 
life, markedly improved patient outcomes, and extended the life 
expectancy of patients across the country. Healthy, committed donors 
provide the human plasma essential to manufacture these lifesaving 
therapies. There are now over 1,100 plasma collection centers in the 
U.S. that have demonstrated their commitment to donor safety and 
quality by earning International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) 
certification.
  As the co-chair of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. I 
understand that hundreds of thousands of Americans with rare diseases 
rely on plasma protein therapies that are only available because of the 
commitment of dedicated plasma donors. For example, Americans living 
with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) require intravenous immunoglobulin 
(IVIG) treatments derived from plasma donors. Without timely care, even 
the most common infections can present the risk of serious illness or 
death for these patients. That is why I introduced the PI Post Acute 
Access Act, which would expand access to IVIG treatment for Medicare 
beneficiaries with PI in skilled nursing facilities. I have long 
advocated to ensure access to IVIG treatments, and I will continue to 
fight to ensure all Americans, including rare disease patients, have 
access to the innovative treatments they need.
  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 donation centers that make and collect 
needed and lifesaving contributions.

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