[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 14766]]

                              FIBROMYALGIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Granger). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the approximately 
3.7 million Americans who are plagued by a little-known chronic 
disorder called fibromyalgia.
  Fibromyalgia is a severe form of arthritis characterized by 
widespread pain and tenderness in the areas of the neck, spine, 
shoulders, and hips, as well as by fatigue, weakness and sleep.
  Unfortunately for these individuals affected by fibromyalgia, the 
exact cause of the disorder is unknown, and worse yet, there is no 
known cure; however, this much is known about fibromyalgia, it may be 
triggered by stress, trauma or possibly an infectious agent in 
susceptible people.
  Thanks to the efforts of organizations such as the National Arthritis 
Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and 
the National Institute of Arthritis and Muscular Skeletal and Skin 
Diseases, NIAMS, breakthroughs in treatments for relieving the pain of 
those affected by fibromyalgia are now more commonplace, thank 
goodness. Medical experts, for example, have determined that a 
combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation 
can help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. This is very good news, 
but there is a lot of work still left to be done.
  I respectfully call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
recognize the severity of the issue of fibromyalgia, to support 
individuals affected by fibromyalgia through public awareness and 
education, to recognize the leadership of the Arthritis Foundation, 
CDC, and the States in developing the National Arthritis Action Plan, 
which includes strategies to address all forms of arthritis, including 
fibromy-algia, and to recognize the importance of committing resources 
to the Arthritis Foundation, the CDC, NIAMS, and the relevant Federal 
research institutions helping to pinpoint the cause of fibromyalgia, 
and eventually find a cure for fibromyalgia.
  Before I finish, I would like to share with my colleagues a story of 
a constituent of mine, Lin Kisslinger, from Oklahoma City, who was 
diagnosed with fibromyalgia 9 years ago. Lin is an extremely courageous 
woman who has gone to great lengths to promote an awareness of 
fibromyalgia in my home State of Oklahoma and throughout the country. 
Lin successfully helped establish a statewide fibromyalgia awareness 
day in Oklahoma, and she played an integral role in finding the 
Fibromyalgia Support Group of South Oklahoma City.
  With Lin Kisslinger's continued dedication to promote the awareness 
of fibromyalgia, combined with the efforts of the Oklahoma City and 
Tulsa chapters of the National Arthritis Foundation, the National 
Arthritis Foundation itself, the CDC, and NIAMS, I am confident that a 
cure for fibromyalgia will be discovered sooner, rather than later.
  I respectfully urge my colleagues to support my House Resolution on 
fibromyalgia.

                          ____________________