III
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 420
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 3, 2006
Mr. Smith (for himself, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
July 31, 2006
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that effective treatment and access to care for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should be improved.
Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are serious, chronic, inflammatory, disfiguring, and life-altering diseases that require sophisticated medical intervention and care;
Whereas, according to the National Institutes of Health, between 5,800,000 citizens and 7,500,000 citizens of the United States are affected by psoriasis;
Whereas psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are—
painful and disabling diseases with no cure; and
diseases that have a significant and adverse impact on the quality of life of individuals diagnosed with them;
Whereas studies have indicated that psoriasis may cause as much physical and mental disability as other major diseases, including—
cancer;
arthritis;
hypertension;
heart disease;
diabetes; and
depression;
Whereas studies have shown that psoriasis is associated with elevated rates of depression and suicidal ideation;
Whereas citizens of the United States spend between $2,000,000,000 and $3,000,000,000 to treat psoriasis each year;
Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis may help prevent irreversible joint damage;
Whereas treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis presents a challenge for patients and health care providers because—
no single treatment works for every patient diagnosed with the disease;
some treatments lose effectiveness over time; and
all treatments have the potential to cause a unique set of side effects;
Whereas, although safer and more effective treatments are now more readily available, many people do not have access to them; and
Whereas Congress as an institution, and the members of Congress as individuals, are in a unique position to help raise public awareness about the need for increased access to effective treatment options for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
recognizes—
the need for enhanced public awareness of psoriasis;
the adverse impact that psoriasis can have on people living with the disease; and
the importance of an early diagnosis and proper treatment of psoriasis;
supports the continuing leadership provided by the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for identifying a cure and developing safer, more effective treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; and
encourages—
researchers to examine the negative psychological and physical effects of psoriasis to better understand its impact on those who have been diagnosed with the disease; and
efforts to increase access to treatments and care that individuals living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis need and deserve.