[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 163 (Friday, October 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E927-E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL PLASMA AWARENESS WEEK 2025

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2025

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate International 
Plasma Awareness Week, an annual campaign dedicated to raising 
awareness about the importance of source plasma collection, recognizing 
the valued contributions of donors, and increasing understanding about 
plasma protein therapies and the rare diseases they treat.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Rare Disease Caucus and a member of 
the Congressional Plasma Caucus, this annual event, celebrated from 
October 6 to 10 this year, is close to my heart.
  For many people with rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies mean the 
difference between life and death, or between a life of diminished 
health and physical limitations and one filled with hope and 
possibility.
  For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but serious 
neurological disorder that can lead to rapid muscle weakness and, in 
severe cases, paralysis. A related condition, Chronic Inflammatory 
Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), is characterized by ongoing nerve 
inflammation that can significantly impair mobility and quality of 
life. For both these conditions, immunoglobulins reduce inflammation, 
regulate the immune system, and help patients regain function. Most 
patients with CIDP require life-long treatment to manage their 
symptoms.
  In the case of primary immunodeficiencies, hemophilia, alpha-1 
antitrypsin deficiency, and other conditions, the body does not make 
important proteins, or those proteins are functionally damaged. These 
patients also rely on plasma-derived medicine to replace their programs 
and restore their health. In most cases, plasma-derived therapies are 
the only available treatment for these conditions. That is why it's so 
important that we raise awareness of the importance of plasma-derived 
therapies this week, and work to improve access to these unique 
biologic products.
  I'm committed to working to ensure that every individual, regardless 
of how rare their disease may be, has access to the therapies they need 
to lead healthier, fuller lives.

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