IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 518 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2017 as ‘‘Pulmonary 

Fibrosis Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 

Mr. PAULSEN (for himself and Mr. COHEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2017 

as ‘‘Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a debilitating and ultimately fatal lung condition that causes progressive scarring in the lungs and has no definitive cause; 

Whereas, as many as 200,000 individuals in the United 

States are known to suffer from the progressive, suffocating effects of pulmonary fibrosis; 

Whereas the average survival rate for the idiopathic form of 

pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is just 2.8 years and up to 80 

percent of IPF patients die within 5 years of diagnosis; 

Whereas pulmonary fibrosis takes the lives of 40,000 or more 

individuals in the United States each year—approximately 1 every 13 minutes or 110 every day; 


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•HRES 518 IH 

Whereas many patients afflicted with pulmonary fibrosis are 

misdiagnosed for 1 to 3 years after presenting pulmonary 

fibrosis symptoms; 

Whereas, as of July 2017, there are no confirmed biomarkers 

for screening and testing for pulmonary fibrosis; 

Whereas a cure, treatment, or drug to halt the fibrotic process in pulmonary fibrosis does not yet exist; 

Whereas the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis vary from person-to-person and include shortness of breath, persistent 

cough, finger ‘‘clubbing’’, weight loss, and aching muscles 

and joints; 

Whereas courageous volunteers, dedicated researchers, tireless caregivers, and medical professionals are working 

tirelessly to improve the quality of life for individuals 

with pulmonary fibrosis and for the families of those individuals; and 

Whereas developing more effective treatments for pulmonary 

fibrosis and providing access to quality care for individuals with PF requires significantly increased basic and 

translational research funding and grants, patient and 

physician education, and enhanced community support 

services: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Pulmonary Fi3 brosis Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘Pul5 monary Fibrosis Awareness Month’’; 

6 (3) continues to support and advocate for more 

7 robust and accelerated private, State, and Federal 


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1 research to develop more effective treatments and 

2 therapies for pulmonary fibrosis and to ultimately 

3 discover a cure for this lethal disease; 

4 (4) continues to support and advocate for effec5 tive Federal efforts to ease the administrative bur6 dens on those suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and 

7 their families and caregivers; 

8 (5) continues to support and advocate for swift 

9 and efficient Federal evaluation and approval of new 

10 drugs and other treatment options for pulmonary fi11 brosis patients; 

12 (6) recognizes the ongoing courage and con13 tributions of individuals with pulmonary fibrosis who 

14 participate in vital, invaluable clinical trials to ad15 vance the knowledge of the disease; and 

16 (7) commends and encourages the continued 

17 dedication of organizations, volunteers, researchers, 

18 clinicians, rehabilitation professionals, and dedicated 

19 individuals in the United States and abroad working 

20 tirelessly to improve the quality of life for individuals 

21 with pulmonary fibrosis and the families and care22 givers of those individuals. 

Æ 


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