IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 208 

Recognizing the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Jonas Salk on the fiftieth 

anniversary of the milestone discovery of the Salk polio vaccine, which 

has virtually eliminated the disease and its harmful effects. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 12, 2005 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. HART, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GERLACH, Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. 

WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. CASE, Mr. DENT, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. 

TOWNS, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. 

SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. BOEHNER, 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. CHOCOLA, Mr. PITTS, Mr. WELDON of Florida, 

Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. SHERWOOD, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. RYUN

of Kansas, Mr. NEY, Mr. TURNER, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. BONNER, Mr. 

BACHUS, Mr. BURGESS, Mrs. BONO, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. SHIMKUS, and 

Mrs. BLACKBURN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Jonas Salk 

on the fiftieth anniversary of the milestone discovery 

of the Salk polio vaccine, which has virtually eliminated 

the disease and its harmful effects. 

Whereas Dr. William S. McEllroy, Dean of the University of 

Pittsburgh School of Medicine, in 1947 recruited Dr. 
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Jonas Salk to develop a virus research program at the 

University of Pittsburgh; 

Whereas Dr. Salk, the first member of his family to go to 

college, during his previous 51⁄2 years at Michigan, who 

had become known for his expertise on the immunology 

of influenza during World War II had helped to develop 

the vaccine that continues to be used against influenza; 

Whereas Dr. Salk set up a research laboratory in The Municipal Hospital for Contagious Diseases, now Salk Hall at 

the University of Pittsburgh; 

Whereas the epidemic of polio peaked in 1952, having affected nearly 58,000 people, mainly children and young 

adults; 

Whereas many of those affected were confined to mechanical 

ventilators known as iron lungs to breathe while many 

others were crippled and needed crutches for mobility; 

Whereas University of Pittsburgh faculty member Dr. Jonas 

Salk and his team of researchers developed the first vaccine against polio; 

Whereas in April 1955 the results of an unprecedented and 

successful nationwide clinical trial of the polio vaccine developed at the University of Pittsburgh were announced 

indicating that the vaccine was safe and effective; 

Whereas the Salk polio vaccine was approved for widespread 

public use and the incidence of polio in the United States 

fell by 85–90 percent during the first 3 years of widespread use of Salk’s polio vaccine (1955–1957); 

Whereas the Salk polio vaccine developed at the University of 

Pittsburgh is considered one of the most significant medical achievements of the twentieth century; 
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Whereas the international immunization of children and 

young adults at that time resulted in the worldwide eradication of polio by 1962 and since that time has prevented 

any significant re-emergence of the disease; 

Whereas in 1963 Dr. Salk founded the Jonas Salk Institute 

for Biological Studies, an innovative center for medical 

and scientific research; and 

Whereas Dr. Salk’s last years were spent searching for a vaccine against AIDS: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the University of Pittsburgh on 

3 the fiftieth anniversary of the milestone discovery of 

4 the Salk polio vaccine, which has virtually eliminated 

5 the disease and its harmful effects; 

6 (2) recognizes the pioneering achievement of 

7 Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of researchers at the 

8 University of Pittsburgh in the development of the 

9 Salk polio vaccine; 

10 (3) states its appreciation to— 

11 (A) the University of Pittsburgh for the 

12 elimination of a disease that caused countless 

13 deaths and disabling consequences; 

14 (B) the members of Dr. Salk’s research 

15 team; 

16 (C) the individuals, a majority of whom 

17 were residents of Allegheny County, Pennsyl18 vania, who generously agreed to participate in 
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1 clinical trials to validate the efficacy of the polio 

2 vaccine; and 

3 (D) the family members of Dr. Salk for 

4 their participation in medical history. 

Æ