Autoimmune Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2025

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
1

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

26-15

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

March 4, 2025

To declare the month of March 2025 as “Autoimmune Awareness Month” in the District of
Columbia, and to support efforts to increase awareness of autoimmune diseases and
increase funding for autoimmune disease research.

WHEREAS, researchers have identified the category of autoimmune diseases includes
more than 100 diseases that are chronic and in many cases debilitating, with no known cures;

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the blood,
blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and multiple -
organ system, and can be life-threatening;

WHEREAS, researchers have identified a close genetic relationship and a common
pathway of disease that exists among autoimmune diseases, explaining the clustering of
autoimmune diseases in individuals and families;

WHEREAS, the family of autoimmune diseases is underrecognized and poses a major
healthcare challenge to the United States;

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health estimates that autoimmune diseases afflict
up to 50,000 people in the United States, 80 percent of whom are women, and the prevalence of
autoimmune diseases is rising;

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in women
under age 65;

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases frequently affect children and young adults, leading to
a lifetime of disability;

WHEREAS, diagnostic tests for most autoimmune diseases are not standardized, making
autoimmune diseases very difficult to diagnose;

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, because autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, treatment is often
delayed, sometimes resulting in irreparable damage and unnecessary suffering, which underscores
the importance of early diagnoses and treatment;

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies reported that the United
States is behind other countries in research into immune system self-recognition, which is the cause
of autoimmune diseases;

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for research focusing on the etiology of all
autoimmune-related diseases, to increase understanding of the root causes of these diseases rather
than treating the symptoms after the disease has had its destructive effect;

WHEREAS, the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups is a coalition of
national organizations focused on autoimmune diseases working to consolidate the voices of
patients with autoimmune diseases and to promote increased education, awareness, and research
into all aspects of autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach; and

WHEREAS, designating the month of March 2025 as “Autoimmune Awareness Month”
would help educate the public about autoimmune diseases and the need for research funding,
accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, T hat this
resolution may be cited as the “Autoimmune Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia declares the month of March 2025 as
“Autoimmune Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia and supports efforts to increase
awareness of autoimmune diseases and increase funding for autoimmune disease research.

Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.