For Immediate Release:

February 25, 2011

Contact: Elise Marsh

804-698-1034 

Delegate Comstock Resolution Designating May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia Passes

Richmond, VA – Delegate Barbara Comstock’s House Joint Resolution 643, permanently designating May of 2011, and all succeeding years, as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia, passed this week in the General Assembly. 

Delegate Comstock issued the following statement: 

“I was proud to introduce this Resolution this year.  I am very pleased that it was passed by both the House of Delegates and the Senate unanimously. This will help us raise awareness about this debilitating disease.  We will increase our education efforts about the threat of Lyme Disease, and we also have the ongoing efforts with the Governor’s Lyme Disease Commission.  I am committed to helping to ensure that people living in high risk areas know how to protect themselves and their children and get the medical treatments they need. I look forward to working on highlighting these needs through focused activities in May 2011 and well beyond.      

Delegate Rust also issued the following statement:

“I was pleased to work with Delegate Comstock on the resolution and I will continue to pursue a better understanding and treatment of the disease by the medical profession and the public in general.”

Monte Skall, Executive Director of The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association issued a statement on the adoption of House Joint Resolution 643:

“The National Capital Lyme Disease Association (NatCapLyme) is grateful to the Virginia General Assembly for adoption of House Joint Resolution No. 643, permanently designating the month of May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia in every year without need for annual renewal.

On behalf of all Virginians affected by Lyme disease, NatCapLyme and its seven Virginia chapters  gratefully acknowledge the leadership of the resolution sponsor, Delegate Barbara Comstock, and those members who joined her as co-patrons.  We appreciate their hard work and support.”

“NatCapLyme represents hundreds of Lyme victims throughout Virginia as well as in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Lyme disease is regarded as the fastest-spreading vector-borne infection in the United States. Virginia has not been spared, experiencing a 169% increase in CDC-reportable Lyme cases. Many authorities, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, have called for greater public awareness of this disease to foster better prevention and early detection. With this Resolution, organizations can reliably plan to make May a focal point of public education and awareness.

“Joint Resolution No. 643 achieves that noble purpose of encouraging public education on Lyme and how to prevent its further spread in the Commonwealth. Resolution No. 643 will be an important benefit to our citizens. This measure extends official recognition of the problem, encourages Virginians to learn about these diseases, treat them seriously, take aggressive prevention measures and seek early treatment. It will encourage physicians to seek medical education about Lyme and tick-borne infections in Virginia.”

About Delegate Barbara Comstock                                                                                                  
Barbara Comstock was elected in November 2009, to represent the 34th District (Great Falls, parts of McLean, Vienna and Herndon) in the Virginia House of Delegates. She serves on the Transportation Committee, the Science and Technology Committee and the General Laws Committee, where she serves as Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee. Barbara was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Governor's Economic Development and Job Creation Commission and, also, was appointed by the Speaker to serve on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. Barbara also serves on The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.

Barbara Comstock is a 28 year resident of McLean, Virginia. She and her husband, Chip, an assistant principal at Oakton High School, have raised their three children in McLean. Barbara served as a senior aide to Virginia Congressman Frank R. Wolf, Chief Counsel to the House Government Reform and Oversight committee, and the Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Justice Department.  Barbara is on the Board of Friends of Clemyjontri Park in McLean and Childhelp and is a member of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.  Barbara is a small businesswoman and attorney.  
For more information, please visit http://www.delegatecomstock.com or call 703-209-3787.  You can also follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BarbaraComstock or at Facebook on http://www.facebook.com/ComstockforDelegate.

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