III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 657 

Designating September 13, 2008, as ‘‘National Celiac Disease Awareness 

Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 22 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 13, 2008, as ‘‘National Celiac 

Disease Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas celiac disease affects approximately 1 in every 130 

people in the United States, for a total of 3,000,000 people; 

Whereas the majority of people with celiac disease have yet 

to be diagnosed; 

Whereas celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder 

that is classified as both an autoimmune condition and 

a genetic condition; 

Whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the 

small intestine, which results in overall malnutrition; 


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Whereas, when a person with celiac disease consumes foods 

that contain certain protein fractions, that person suffers 

a cell-mediated immune response that damages the villi 

of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of 

nutrients in food and the effectiveness of medications; 

Whereas those problematic protein fractions are found in 

wheat, barley, rye, and oats, which are used to produce 

many foods, medications, and vitamins; 

Whereas, because celiac disease is a genetic disease, there is 

an increased incidence of celiac disease in families with 

a known history of celiac disease; 

Whereas celiac disease is underdiagnosed because the symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and are easily 

overlooked by doctors and patients; 

Whereas, as recently as 2000, the average person with celiac 

disease waited 11 years for a correct diagnosis; 

Whereas 1⁄2 of all people with celiac disease do not show 

symptoms of the disease; 

Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed by tests that measure the 

blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 

immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA 

anti-endomysium antibodies; 

Whereas celiac disease can be treated only by implementing 

a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats, often called 

a ‘‘gluten-free diet’’; 

Whereas a delay in the diagnosis of celiac disease can result 

in damage to the small intestine, which leads to an increased risk of malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage, congenital malformation, short stature, and disorders of the skin and 

other organs; 


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Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease, systemic lupus 

erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen 

vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome; 

Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was 

first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who wrote, ‘‘if the 

patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet’’; 

Whereas Dr. Samuel Gee was born on September 13, 1839; 

and 

Whereas, by designating September 13, 2008, as National 

Celiac Disease Awareness Day, the Senate can raise 

awareness of celiac disease in the general public and the 

medical community: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 13, 2008, as ‘‘Na3 tional Celiac Disease Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes that all people in the United 

5 States should become more informed and aware of 

6 celiac disease; 

7 (3) calls upon the people of the United States 

8 to observe the date with appropriate ceremonies and 

9 activities; and 

10 (4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the 

11 Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

12 Celiac Sprue Association, the American Celiac Soci13 ety, the Celiac Disease Foundation, the Gluten Intol14 erance Group of North America, and the Oklahoma 


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1 Celiac Support Group No. 5 of the Celiac Sprue As2 sociation. 

Æ 


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