[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20912-20913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PSORIASIS AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to bring attention to the 
serious, debilitating, chronic diseases of psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis. August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, and I urge you to 
support S. 571, the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, 
and Care Act for 2009--important legislation that I have cosponsored 
with my colleagues.
  This legislation will fill important gaps in psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis data collection and research, and is an important step in 
providing relief to the as many as 7.5 million Americans that the 
National Institutes of Health, NIH, estimates suffer from these non-
contagious, genetic autoimmune diseases.
  Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease, yet is widely 
misunderstood, minimized, and undertreated. Between 10 and 30 percent 
of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes 
pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Without 
treatment, psoriatic arthritis can be disabling. Of serious concern is 
that people with psoriasis are at elevated risk for myriad co-
morbidities, including but not limited to, heart disease, diabetes, 
obesity, and mental health conditions. Psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis impose significant burdens on individuals and society. 
Psoriasis alone is estimated to cost the Nation 56 million hours of 
lost work and between $2 billion and $3 billion annually.
  The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act 
would help combat the pain, suffering, and stigma of psoriasis and 
psoriatic arthritis by expanding psoriasis research conducted by the 
NIH and strengthening patient data collection on these diseases by 
establishing a national psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patient 
registry through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 
bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene 
a summit to discuss issues and opportunities in psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis research. Finally, the bill calls upon the Institute of 
Medicine to conduct a study and issue a report on recommendations with 
respect to access to care for people with psoriasis and psoriatic 
arthritis. Taken together, these efforts will help reduce and prevent 
suffering from these conditions.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize Paula Blount, a National 
Psoriasis Foundation volunteer whose 6-year-old daughter Hannah has 
psoriasis. While this disease is physically painful, for a child, the 
emotional pain can be just as debilitating. In the summer months, 
little Hannah endured many stares and rude remarks at the public pool. 
Her psoriasis was particularly bad, covering a large portion of her 
small body. Paula eventually bought a pool for the backyard so her 
daughter could swim at home without being teased and embarrassed. It is 
important that we do all we can to work with groups like the National 
Psoriasis Foundation to raise awareness about the disease and to fight 
the stigma that this serious autoimmune disease is just a case of ``dry 
skin.''
  In my home State of Oregon there are over 89,000 of my constituents 
living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I encourage my 
colleagues to meet with psoriasis patients in your States to learn more 
about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and work to reduce the 
misconceptions surrounding these conditions. I further urge you to join 
with me and other colleagues in supporting people with psoriasis by 
cosponsoring S. 571.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the letter 
dated August 6, 2009, from Consumers Federation of America, et al., be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, 
           Consumers Union, National Consumer Law Center, U.S. 
           Public Interest Research Group,
                                                   August 6, 2009.
     Re Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act.

     Hon. Jeff Merkley,
     U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Merkley: We congratulate you on introducing 
     legislation to protect consumers from the risks of credit 
     marketed via unsolicited checks that can be signed and 
     deposited, obligating consumers to repay high cost loans. The 
     Deceptive Loan Check

[[Page 20913]]

     Elimination Act fills a gap in protections against mailing 
     unsolicited credit devices that has existed since Congress 
     prohibited banks from mailing live credit cards to consumers 
     in the 1970's.
       Checks mailed as part of credit solicitations represent the 
     loan principal, not just a credit line. Once these checks are 
     ``cashed,'' the borrower becomes obligated for a relatively 
     large debt generally at a high interest rate and prohibitive 
     terms. This marketing device poses significant costs on 
     consumers, given identity theft and its repercussions. First, 
     consumers are harmed if these checks are cashed by someone 
     other than the named borrower. Given the ease with which 
     incoming mail can be stolen from mail boxes or diverted by 
     others in a household, marketing by unauthorized live check 
     loans is a risk to consumers who did not request credit. The 
     cost to consumers includes the time and money spent 
     correcting credit reports and notifying lenders about 
     fraudulently arranged debt as well as reduced credit scores 
     until the fraudulent item is corrected, which can take 
     months. Second, live loan checks present a ``free money'' 
     temptation for consumers struggling to make ends meet, who 
     may not have the ability to pay back the check loan.
       No device that extends credit and obligates borrowers 
     should be sent without express request from consumers. It is 
     high time that Congress complete the job started over thirty 
     years ago to prohibit creditors from mailing out live credit 
     devices to consumers who did not request them and that can be 
     used to obligate consumers and damage credit ratings.
       We look forward to working with you as this bill moves 
     through the legislative process. Please contact Jean Ann Fox, 
     CFA.
           Sincerely,
     Jean Ann Fox,
       Consumer Federation of America.
     Chi Chi Wu,
       National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income 
     clients).
     Linda Sherry,
       Consumer Action.
     Edmund Mierzwinski,
       U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
     Pamela Banks,
       Consumers Union.

                          ____________________