III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 42 

Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, treatment, and 

eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the designation of a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 24, 2007 

Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, 

treatment, and eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary 

fibrosis, supporting the designation of a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and for 

other purposes. 

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

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 1 of about 200 disorders that are 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 


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•SCON 42 ATS 

the lungs that causes an irreversible loss of the ability of 

the lung tissue to transport oxygen; 

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, 

often causing disability or death within a few years; 

Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; 

Whereas more than 128,000 people in the United States have 

idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and more than 48,000 new 

cases are diagnosed each year; 

Whereas there has been a 156-percent increase in mortality 

from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2001; 

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed 

or under-diagnosed; 

Whereas the median survival rate for patients with idiopathic 

pulmonary fibrosis is 2 to 3 years, about 2⁄3 of patients 

with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis die within 5 years, and 

approximately 40,000 patients with idiopathic pulmonary 

fibrosis die each year; and 

Whereas there is a pressing need to increase awareness and 

detection of this misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed disorder, and of all interstitial lung diseases: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into 

4 the causes, treatment, and eventual cure for idio5 pathic pulmonary fibrosis; 

6 (2) supports the work of advocates and organi7 zations in educating, supporting, and providing hope 


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1 for individuals who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary 

2 fibrosis, including efforts to organize a National Idi3 opathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week; 

4 (3) congratulates advocates and organizations 

5 for their efforts to educate the public about idio6 pathic pulmonary fibrosis while funding research to 

7 help find a cure for this disorder; 

8 (4) supports the designation of an appropriate 

9 week as National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 

10 Awareness Week; 

11 (5) welcomes the issuance of a proclamation 

12 designating an appropriate week as National Idio13 pathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week; and 

14 (6) supports the goals and ideals of a National 

15 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week. 

Æ 


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