April 30, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 70 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





         IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL SARCOIDOSIS AWARENESS MONTH

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2019

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of 
Americans affected by Sarcoidosis and other related inflammatory 
diseases to observe April as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month.
  Sarcoidosis can affect any part of the body and cause serious 
disabilities by forcing one's vital organs and central nervous system 
to become hyperactive. While this rare and devastating disease annually 
affects over 200,000 people throughout all demographics, there are 
significant racial, gender, and age-related differences, as it 
disproportionately impacts African-Americans, women, and individuals 
between the ages of 20 and 40.
  Although research suggests the cause of Sarcoidosis is a combination 
of genetic and environmental factors, the exact cause and progression 
of the disease are still unknown. The unique nature of Sarcoidosis 
makes it an enigma in the realm of medical science, and despite 
increasing advances in research, it remains difficult to diagnose with 
limited treatment options and no known cure. Over the years, several of 
my colleagues and I have spoken on the House and Senate floors about 
this fatal disease. During the 103rd session of Congress, I introduced 
H.J. Res. 399, a House Joint Resolution designating Monday, August 29, 
1994, as ``National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day'' while also urging my 
colleagues in Congress to support extensive research to find a suitable 
cure and treatment method for individuals with Sarcoidosis.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing April as National Sarcoidosis 
Awareness Month by acknowledging the need for more efficient research 
into the causes, diagnostics, and potential treatment options for 
Sarcoidosis. I am pleased to have the chance to bring a relatively 
unknown disease to light and to increase public awareness of the need 
to support individuals with this life-threatening ailment.

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