Recognizing International Plasma Awareness Week 2025
Floor Speech
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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate International Plasma Awareness Week, an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of source plasma collection, recognizing the valued contributions of donors, and increasing understanding about plasma protein therapies and the rare diseases they treat.
As co-chair of the Congressional Rare Disease Caucus and a member of the Congressional Plasma Caucus, this annual event, celebrated from October 6 to 10 this year, is close to my heart.
For many people with rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies mean the difference between life and death, or between a life of diminished health and physical limitations and one filled with hope and possibility.
For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but serious neurological disorder that can lead to rapid muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis. A related condition, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), is characterized by ongoing nerve inflammation that can significantly impair mobility and quality of life. For both these conditions, immunoglobulins reduce inflammation, regulate the immune system, and help patients regain function. Most patients with CIDP require life-long treatment to manage their symptoms.
In the case of primary immunodeficiencies, hemophilia, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and other conditions, the body does not make important proteins, or those proteins are functionally damaged. These patients also rely on plasma-derived medicine to replace their programs and restore their health. In most cases, plasma-derived therapies are the only available treatment for these conditions. That is why it's so important that we raise awareness of the importance of plasma-derived therapies this week, and work to improve access to these unique biologic products.
I'm committed to working to ensure that every individual, regardless of how rare their disease may be, has access to the therapies they need to lead healthier, fuller lives.
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