The faces of Rheumatoid Disease are many. The personal stories will bring you to tears. Rheumatoid Disease (also known as Rheumatoid Arthritis) is a progressive inflammatory disease causing damage to joint and organ tissues, resulting in severe pain, frequent disability and increased mortality. Because the disease is commonly presumed to be a type of arthritis, proper support is lacking, causing problems with disability accommodations, clinical care, healthcare reimbursement and research funding.

Rheumatoid Awareness Day was established as February 2nd in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation. While several cities and localities have issued official proclamations, we are still lacking a national proclamation for Rheumatoid Awareness Day in the United States.

Rheumatoid Awareness Day gives people with the chronic illness known as rheumatoid arthritis, or rheumatoid disease, a day of recognition. A nationally recognized Awareness Day would serve as an annual platform to educate people about the disease -- including patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and the general public. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease are important in preventing permanent damage and disability. However, proper education is necessary so individuals and healthcare providers know the early signs of disease onset and risk factors. Education and awareness are crucial to bring about better clinical care, increased research funding and improved disease outcomes.

Rheumatoid Disease is a serious disease, but symptoms can be visibly subtle, making it difficult to understand. Lack of awareness of Rheumatoid Disease makes it even more isolating.

On behalf of the millions of people who have fought the crippling pain and damage of Rheumatoid Disease with remarkable resilience, we are asking the President of the United States to make the following national proclamation establishing February 2nd as Rheumatoid Awareness Day:

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WHEREAS Rheumatoid Disease (also known as rheumatoid arthritis) is a progressive, destructive disease frequently leading to disability; and

WHEREAS Rheumatoid Disease affects approximately 1% of the population; and

WHEREAS Rheumatoid Disease is a disease in which immune cells attack joints and organs, including heart and lungs; and

WHEREAS almost 2/3 of patients have a 20% response or less to treatments; and

WHEREAS no cure is known; and

WHEREAS the United States spends a fraction of what is spent on rarer diseases with similar mortality rates on Rheumatoid Disease research; and

WHEREAS early diagnosis is critical in preventing irreparable damage to joints and other tissue; and

WHEREAS the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation was formed to create awareness, generate support, provide advocacy and push for research to find a cure; and

WHEREAS the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation has declared February 2 as Rheumatoid Awareness Day – a day to bring Rheumatoid Disease out of the shadows;

NOW, Therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim this February 2 and every February 2 thereafter,

RHEUMATOID AWARENESS DAY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.