Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study the suicide crises among children living with chronic illnesses and conditions, including autoimmune diseases like alopecia. Across this Nation, our children are carrying unprecedented amounts of trauma and grief in their emotional backpacks. For an entire generation of youngsters living with chronic conditions, the solitude, grief, and uncertainty of the past 2 years have only exacerbated the emotional and mental health challenges that already weighed so heavily. Like millions of Americans, I am living with the autoimmune disease alopecia. There are several forms of alopecia. I am living with alopecia universalis. Navigating the world as a bald woman is disruptive to many. I am 48 years old, I am an adult, and I have built up some pretty thick skin, but there are days that even bring me to my knees because of the social stigmatization, the bullying, the taunting that I experience as an adult. Although this does not threaten my life, that does not mean that it does not impact it. I was a caregiver to my mother in her cancer battle, and her very first concern and worry--even though she was fighting for her life--was, am I going to lose my hair. This is something much more than cosmetic for all who are living with this.…”