[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE

  (Mr. VALADAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness for 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or CJD. CJD is a rare brain disease that 
causes a rapid decline in a person's cognitive health and often leads 
to death within only a few months to 1 year following the onset of 
symptoms.
  There are about 500 new cases in the United States each year. Sadly, 
one of these cases was a friend of mine and a well-known member of the 
Central Valley community, Bakersfield Mayor Harvey L. Hall.
  In 2018, Mayor Hall lost his life from CJD just 2 weeks after his 
diagnosis. Mr. Hall was a beloved member of our community and the 
longest-serving mayor in Bakersfield's history. His sudden death was a 
shock to our community and devastating for all who knew him, including 
his wife of 28 years, who is here today, Lavonne Hall.
  Madam Speaker, I am introducing a resolution today to designate 
November 12 as CJD Awareness Day, and I am proud to honor Mayor Hall's 
memory in this way and raise awareness for thousands of CJD patients 
and the families who have been impacted by this disease.

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