[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AWARENESS MONTH

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Muscular 
Dystrophy Awareness Month and on behalf of Americans diagnosed with 
muscular dystrophy. Initiatives like Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month 
are crucial for raising public awareness about the effects of the 
disease while driving action and new treatments for individuals that 
result in improvements in care.
  Muscular dystrophy is a family of diseases in which abnormal genetic 
mutations interfere with protein production that is critical to forming 
healthy muscle. The disease progressively causes weakness and loss of 
muscle mass in affected individuals and can result in the complete 
paralysis of all voluntary muscles, including those used in breathing 
and swallowing. Over one million individuals in the United States are 
affected by some form of muscular dystrophy, and there is currently no 
cure for the disease. However, research into muscular dystrophy has 
recently led to new treatments for several types of muscular diseases, 
and experimental treatments like gene therapy have also shown promise.
  It is critical that we work to raise awareness of muscular dystrophy 
and related diseases while promoting research initiatives that have the 
potential to lead to breakthroughs in treatments and advances in care. 
Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month provides a special opportunity to 
bring together advocates and researchers to educate the public and 
support efforts to better understand this disease while working to 
improve the quality of life for impacted individuals. Washtenaw 
County's participation in the Light It Up Green event underscores the 
community's support for individuals diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, 
and it is my hope that public officials continue to play a leading role 
in combating this disease and promoting policies that provide all 
Americans the opportunity to live healthy lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing June as 
Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month. We must continue to support efforts 
to better understand muscular dystrophy so that there will one day be a 
cure for this devastating disease.

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