September 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 143 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H7548-H7549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, September is Peripheral Artery Disease 
Awareness Month.
  Known as PAD, it is a life-threatening and chronic circulatory 
condition. It causes blood vessels from the heart to the legs to 
narrow, slows or blocks blood from getting into the legs of sufferers, 
and could lead to unnecessary amputation.
  Far too little is known about an illness that afflicts almost 20 
million

[[Page H7549]]

Americans today and could lead to 3.6 million Americans losing a leg in 
the next 30 years, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins 
University.
  It is a personal battle for me as an African American who suffers 
from diabetes. The disease is three times more likely to affect African 
Americans, and diabetes is one of the high-risk factors.
  Fortunately, it is easy to prevent. That is why I started the 
Congressional PAD Caucus in the House with my colleague, Gus Bilirakis 
from Florida.
  Amputation is one of the most physically and emotionally damaging 
injuries a person can experience, especially if it is unnecessary. We 
need to focus more attention and resources to a problem with a clear 
solution and save sufferers and families an unnecessary trauma.

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