IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 225
Supporting the designation of March as ‘‘Autoimmune Awareness Month’’
and supporting efforts to increase awareness of autoimmune diseases
and increase funding for autoimmune disease research.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH14, 2025
Ms. S
TEVENSsubmitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of March as ‘‘Autoimmune
Awareness Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase
awareness of autoimmune diseases and increase funding
for autoimmune disease research.
Whereas researchers have identified that the category of
autoimmune diseases includes more than 100 diseases
that are chronic and in many cases debilitating, with no
known cures;
Whereas autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the
body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous
system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and mul-
tiple organ systems, and can be life-threatening;
Whereas researchers have identified a close genetic relation-
ship and a common pathway of disease that exists among
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•HRES 225 IH
autoimmune diseases, explaining the clustering of auto-
immune diseases in individuals and families;
Whereas the family of autoimmune diseases is underrecog-
nized, and poses a major health care challenge to the
United States;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health estimates that
autoimmune diseases afflict up to 50,000,000 people in
the United States, 80 percent of the people affected are
women, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases is ris-
ing;
Whereas autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading
causes of death in women under 65;
Whereas autoimmune diseases frequently affect children and
young adults, leading to a lifetime of disability;
Whereas diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are
not standardized, making autoimmune diseases very dif-
ficult to diagnose;
Whereas, because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diag-
nose, treatment is often delayed, sometimes resulting in
irreparable damage and unnecessary suffering, making
early diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases
critical;
Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
reported that the United States is behind other countries
in research into immune system self-recognition, the
cause of autoimmune diseases;
Whereas a study by the Autoimmune Association revealed
that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune
disease more than 4.5 years to get a correct diagnosis;
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•HRES 225 IH
Whereas there is a significant need for more collaboration
and cross-fertilization of basic autoimmune research;
Whereas there is a significant need for research focusing on
the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases, to in-
crease understanding of the root causes of these diseases
rather than treating the symptoms after the disease has
had its destructive effect; and
Whereas designating March as ‘‘Autoimmune Awareness
Month’’ would help educate the public about autoimmune
diseases and the need for research funding, accurate di-
agnosis, and effective treatments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Autoimmune 2
Awareness Month’’; 3
(2) supports the efforts of health care providers 4
and autoimmune patient advocacy and education or-5
ganizations to increase awareness of the causes of, 6
and treatments for, autoimmune diseases; and 7
(3) supports the goal of increasing funding for 8
aggressive research to learn the root causes of auto-9
immune diseases, as well as the best diagnostic 10
methods and treatments for people with autoimmune 11
diseases. 12
Æ
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