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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 12, 2018 03:37 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Thomas H. Killion and Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | "Lupus Awareness Month" (May) and "World Lupus Day" (May 10, 2018) |
| In the near future, we plan to offer a resolution recognizing May 2018 as “Lupus Awareness Month” in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and May 10, 2018, as “World Lupus Day” in Pennsylvania. I was recently contacted by a constituent, a young woman who is a resident of Bethel Township and was diagnosed with Lupus nearly twenty-five years ago. She is hopeful to take on a more active role in her community and in Delaware County to help educate and advocate on behalf of other individuals and families who are living with Lupus. As you may know, Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which an unstable immune system begins to attack its own tissue and organs. It is estimated that lupus affects one out of every 185 people in America and over 65,000 Pennsylvanians. Although Lupus can occur at any age and in females and males; 90 percent of people with lupus are women, mostly between the ages of 15 and 45 and 20 percent of all cases occur before the age of 20. Minority women are disproportionately diagnosed with Lupus compared to other demographics. While most people experience milder cases, this disease can be fatal. To this day, the causes of Lupus are unknown and there are no known permanent cures for the disease. However, with early diagnosis and therapy, 80 to 90 percent of people with Lupus can enjoy a normal life span. Increased awareness, treatment availability, and improved diagnostic techniques are critical to the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Senator Rafferty introduced this resolution in 2015 and in 2016, and has actively co-chaired the General Assembly’s Lupus Caucus with Representative Readshaw. To date, we have joined together to work collaboratively with the Lupus Foundation of America, Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter and the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, based in Pittsburgh, to re-introduce this resolution for the current year, 2018. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important resolution. |
Introduced as SR338