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Managing America: Health

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending October 19, 2007

H.CON.RES.182 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and for other purposes.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disorder that causes progressive and incurable scarring of the lungs. The results are debilitation and loss of life in a few years due to the lung’s inability to transport oxygen.

128,000 Americans have the disease and 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The disease is often misdiagnosed, patient side within 2 to 3 years and 40,000 die each year.

More resolution below….

Sponsor:  Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA-9^th)

Vote: Passed House 414 to 17 RC 971 October 16, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disorder causing progressive, incurable lung scarring;

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is one of about 200 disorders called interstitial lung diseases;

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form of interstitial lung disease;

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and generally fatal disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs, causing an irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen;

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, often causing disability or death within a few short years;

Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;

Whereas more than 128,000 United States citizens have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and more than 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year representing a 156-percent increase in mortality since 2001;

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed or under diagnosed;

Whereas the median survival rate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is 2 to 3 years; about two-thirds of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients die within 5 years; and approximately 40,000 patients die each year; and

Whereas a need has been identified to increase awareness and detection of this misdiagnosed and under diagnosed disorder as well as all incarnations of pulmonary fibrosis: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress--

(1) recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;

(2) supports the work of advocates and organizations in educating, supporting, and providing hope for individuals who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including efforts to organize a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;

(3) supports the designation of an appropriate week as National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;

(4) welcomes the issuance of a proclamation designating a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;

(5) congratulates advocates and organizations for their efforts to educate the public about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, while funding research to help find a cure for this disorder; and

(6) supports the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.

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