WASHINGTON – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will host an awareness forum to address multiple sclerosis – what has commonly been referred to as a ‘mysterious disease.’ Partnering with CBCF in its forum on May 13 from 11:00a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center, Congressional Meeting Room South are the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and EMD Serono.
Kweisi Mfume, newly-named chief executive officer for the National Medical Association and a former Congress member, will moderate the event. Panelists will include Reps. Barbara Lee of California, Russ Carnahan of Missouri and Hank Johnson of Georgia. Members will share their personal involvement around MS issues as well as legislation they are supporting to address this debilitation condition and their fight for access to affordable prescription medications under the current health care legislation.
Almost 200 Americans a week are diagnosed a week with MS. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected by MS and for African-Americans, the disease progresses more rapidly, leaving them to need ambulatory assistance earlier than other groups. The forum is an extension of the Foundation’s core mission to educate the public through community and policy outreach.
WHO: CBC Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, EMD Serano
WHAT: Congressional Awareness Forum on Multiple Sclerosis
WHEN: May 13, 2010 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Capitol Visitor Center, Congressional Meeting Room South
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The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc. was established in 1976 as a
nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute to help improve the
socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.