[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF JUNE AS NATIONAL SCOLIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH

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                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2013

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as National 
Scoliosis Awareness Month, and to reaffirm our commitment to fighting a 
potentially debilitating medical condition that afflicts over 7 million 
Americans.
   National Scoliosis Awareness Month brings together all members of 
the scoliosis community, including physicians, patients, families, and 
businesspeople to raise awareness about this condition. Diagnosing 
scoliosis is a simple procedure that takes less than 30 seconds, and 
early detection allows physicians to monitor the condition and, if 
necessary, begin treatment before serious complications--including 
chronic back pain and impacted heart and lung function--even begin. 
Raising awareness is therefore crucial to the fight against scoliosis.
   Between two and three percent of the American population suffers 
from scoliosis, and the number of family and friends who are impacted 
by this condition numbers many millions more. While serious 
complications of scoliosis are largely preventable, affordable care and 
public awareness are necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness 
of treatment. National Scoliosis Awareness Month promotes a positive 
public awareness message that elevates the visibility of scoliosis and 
empowers those individuals whose lives have been touched by this 
condition. It is a time for us to recommit ourselves to reducing its 
impact in the future.
   Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing June as National 
Scoliosis Awareness Month, and in thanking organizations such as the 
National Scoliosis Foundation and the Scoliosis Research Society, as 
well as their many supporters, for making it all possible.

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