Whereas residents of the United States of America are among those affected by myositis and other rare diseases, with nearly 1 in 10 Americans having rare diseases;

Whereas idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (collectively referred to as myositis) are rare, chronic, autoimmune muscle-wasting diseases that often feature debilitating muscle inflammation and other symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, and trouble swallowing, and can result in myositis-associated interstitial lung disease;

Whereas more research is needed to identify the causes of and modes of treatments for the myositis group of diseases, which includes anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive myositis, antisynthetase syndrome, dermatomyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, and polymyositis;

Whereas myositis is difficult to diagnose which leads myositis patients to frequently experience delayed treatment and difficulty finding a health care provider with expertise in their condition;

Whereas all who suffer with myositis experience reduced quality of life, particularly since no cure has been found and life expectancy is shortened, especially for those with inclusion body myositis; and

Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on myositis detection and treatment are held during the month of May: Now, therefore, be it