,,iv  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #bbe  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #ad1 #bjbe,ms4   
,/ev5s submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i*
 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &   
,comm]ce  ,,resolution  ,support+ !     
designation ( ,m>* z ,autoimmune        
,aw>5ess ,mon? & support+ ef=ts to      
increase aw>5ess ( autoimmune diseases &
 increase fund+ = autoimmune disease    
rese>*4  ,:]eas rese>*]s h id5tifi$ t ! 
category ( autoimmune diseases includes 
m ?an #ajj diseases t are *ronic & 9 _m 
cases debilitat+1 ) no kn[n cures2      
,:]eas autoimmune diseases c affect any 
"p ( ! body1 includ+ ! blood1 blood     
vessels1 muscles1 n]v\s sy/em1          
ga/ro9te/9al tract1 endocr9e gl&s1 &    
multiple organ sy/ems1 & c be           
life-?reat5+2 ,:]eas rese>*]s h id5tifi$
 a close g5etic relation%ip & a common  
pa?way ( disease t exi/s among          
autoimmune diseases1 expla9+ ! clu/]+ ( 
autoimmune diseases 9 individuals &     
families2 ,:]eas ! family ( autoimmune  

diseases is und]recogniz$1 & poses a    
major heal? c>e *all5ge to ! ,unit$     
,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,in/itutes ( 
,heal? e/imates t autoimmune diseases   
afflict up to #ej1jjj1jjj p 9 ! ,unit$  
,/ates1 #hj p]c5t ( ! p affect$ are     
wom51 & ! preval5ce ( autoimmune        
diseases is ris+2 ,:]eas autoimmune     
diseases are among ! top #aj lead+      
causes ( dea? 9 wom5 "u #fe2 ,:]eas     
autoimmune diseases frequ5tly affect    
*ildr5 & "y adults1 lead+ to a lifetime 
( disability2 ,:]eas diagno/ic te/s =   
mo/ autoimmune diseases are n /&>diz$1  
mak+ autoimmune diseases v difficult to 
diagnose2 ,:]eas1 because autoimmune    
diseases are difficult to diagnose1     
treatm5t is (t5 delay$1 sometimes       
result+ 9 irrep>able damage & unnecess>y
 suff]+1 mak+ e>ly diagnosis & treatm5t 
( autoimmune diseases critical2 ,:]eas !
 ,in/itute ( ,m$ic9e ( ! ,national      
,academies report$ t ! ,unit$ ,/ates is 
beh9d o!r c\ntries 9 rese>* into immune 
sy/em self-recognition1 ! cause (       

autoimmune diseases2 ,:]eas a /udy by ! 
,autoimmune ,association reveal$ t x    
takes ! av]age pati5t ) an autoimmune   
disease m ?an #d4e ye>s to get a correct
 diagnosis2 ,:]eas !re is a significant 
ne$ = m collaboration &                 
cross-f]tilization ( basic autoimmune   
rese>*2 ,:]eas !re is a significant ne$ 
= rese>* focus+ on ! etiology ( all     
autoimmune-relat$ diseases1 to increase 
und]/&+ ( ! root causes ( ^! diseases r 
?an treat+ ! symptoms aft] ! disease has
 _h its de/ructive effect2 & ,:]eas     
designat+ ,m>* z ,autoimmune ,aw>5ess   
,mon? w\ld help educate ! public ab\t   
autoimmune diseases & ! ne$ = rese>*    
fund+1 accurate diagnosis1 & effective  
treatm5ts3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 supports !     
designation ( ,autoimmune ,aw>5ess      
,mon?2  7#b7 supports ! ef=ts ( heal?   
c>e provid]s & autoimmune pati5t        
advocacy & education organizations to   
increase aw>5ess ( ! causes (1 &        
treatm5ts =1 autoimmune diseases2 &     

7#c7 supports ! goal ( increas+ fund+ = 
aggressive rese>* to le>n ! root causes 
( autoimmune diseases1 z well z ! be/   
diagno/ic me?ods & treatm5ts = p )      
autoimmune diseases4