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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 208 Introduced in House (IH)]

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. 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 5\1/2\ 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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the University of Pittsburgh on the fiftieth 
        anniversary of the milestone discovery of the Salk polio 
        vaccine, which has virtually eliminated the disease and its 
        harmful effects;
            (2) recognizes the pioneering achievement of Dr. Jonas Salk 
        and his team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in 
        the development of the Salk polio vaccine;
            (3) states its appreciation to--
                    (A) the University of Pittsburgh for the 
                elimination of a disease that caused countless deaths 
                and disabling consequences;
                    (B) the members of Dr. Salk's research team;
                    (C) the individuals, a majority of whom were 
                residents of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who 
                generously agreed to participate in clinical trials to 
                validate the efficacy of the polio vaccine; and
                    (D) the family members of Dr. Salk for their 
                participation in medical history.
                                 <all>
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