IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1124 

Expressing support for the designation of the last Tuesday of April each 

year as ‘‘APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 9, 2024 

Ms. PLASKETT (for herself, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. DELBENE, Mrs. 

CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. WILD, and Mr. 

DAVIS of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the last Tuesday 

of April each year as ‘‘APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease 

(AMKD) Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas kidney disease affects an estimated 37,000,000 

Americans, and more than 550,000 are on dialysis; 

Whereas Black individuals with kidney disease are more likely 

to develop kidney failure than any other racial group; 

Whereas the health disparities in kidney failure are 

unsustainable, with Black people making up 13 percent 

of the United States population but accounting for 35 

percent of those with kidney failure; 


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•HRES 1124 IH 

Whereas kidney failure places enormous physical, emotional, 

and financial burdens on individuals and costs the Medicare Program over $50,000,000,000 annually; 

Whereas there are genetic factors that can increase an individual’s risk for kidney disease; 

Whereas one such genetic factor is having variants 

(mutations) in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene; 

Whereas people are more likely to have APOL1 gene variants 

if they are from Western or Central Africa or have an 

ancestor who came from these regions; 

Whereas these variants can increase susceptibility for 

APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), a rapidly progressive form of kidney disease that can lead to kidney 

failure; 

Whereas it is estimated that if a patient has variants in both 

copies of the APOL1 gene, there is a 1 in 5 chance they 

will go on to develop kidney disease, and an estimated 13 

percent of Black Americans have variants in both copies 

of the APOL1 gene; 

Whereas a person with AMKD may not have any symptoms 

of kidney disease until their kidneys are close to failing; 

Whereas genetic testing can reveal an individual’s risk for 

AMKD, empowering them to take the steps necessary to 

protect their kidney health before it is too late; 

Whereas individuals who are found to have APOL1 genetic 

variants can reduce their risk for kidney failure by meeting with their doctor regularly, eating a healthy diet, taking all medications as prescribed, exercising for at least 

30 minutes a day, and not smoking or using tobacco; 


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•HRES 1124 IH 

Whereas additional awareness and research of APOL1 genetic mutations are needed to improve understanding of 

the kidney disease disparities in this population; 

Whereas there are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments available for APOL1-mediated 

kidney disease, but ongoing research and clinical trials 

could provide an opportunity for researchers to develop 

and test safe treatments for APOL1-mediated kidney disease; and 

Whereas the House of Representatives can raise public 

awareness of APOL1-mediated kidney disease: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Aware4 ness Day’’; 

5 (2) encourages each person of the United 

6 States to become better informed about and aware 

7 of kidney disease and APOL1-mediated kidney dis8 ease; and 

9 (3) encourages people from or with ancestry 

10 from Western and Central Africa to consider genetic 

11 testing for APOL1 gene mutations. 

Æ 


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