[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. ROONEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Lupus 
Awareness Month. As cochair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, I am 
honored to help raise awareness of lupus throughout the month of May.
  Lupus is a painful and devastating autoimmune disease. It is 
estimated that 1.5 million Americans are currently living with lupus. 
This disease is unpredictable, difficult to diagnose, challenging to 
treat, and especially hard to live with. Unfortunately, I understand 
these challenges all too well as my cousin Kathleen Rooney was 
diagnosed with lupus and died of the disease in her early thirties.
  Years later, the cause of lupus is still unknown and a cure has yet 
to be found. With better understanding of the disease through recent 
research, we have developed new treatment methods that control symptoms 
and help to improve the quality of life for individuals living with 
lupus--but we still have a ways to go.
  On behalf of Kathleen and those with lupus and those who have yet to 
be diagnosed, I urge my colleagues to support investments in research 
towards a cure for lupus.
  I also ask my colleagues to join me in helping to educate and 
advocate and raise awareness for lupus during Lupus Awareness Month by 
wearing purple on May 16, ``Put on Purple Day.''

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