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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 387 Introduced in House (IH)]

106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 387

      Promoting latex allergy awareness, research, and treatment.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2000

 Mr. Davis of Illinois submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
            which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
      Promoting latex allergy awareness, research, and treatment.

Whereas the primary goals of National Latex Allergy Awareness Week are--

    (1) to support funding to promote research related to all aspects of 
latex allergy including pathophysiology, causative factors, diagnostics, 
immunotherapy, treatment standards, and prevention strategies;

    (2) to educate the general public, latex allergy patients and 
caregivers, as well as health care providers, through programs, 
publications, and other media allowing for more awareness and diagnostic, 
management, and prevention strategies of latex allergy;

    (3) to recognize the prevalence of latex allergy as a public health 
issue in the general population and to promote national product standards 
allowing universal access to safe health care, including emergency medical 
services, fire fighting, and law enforcement personnel by all latex 
allergic patients; and

    (4) to promote consumer, patient, and worker safety by mandating 
product labeling for all natural rubber latex or rubber-containing products 
consistent with the Food and Drug Administration's labelling of natural 
rubber latex medical products;

Whereas the Food and Drug Administration reports that scientific and clinical 
        data demonstrate that certain proteins found in natural rubber latex 
        harvested from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis are allergenic and, in 
        some instances, may cause severe allergic reactions;
Whereas the Food and Drug Administration also reports that there remains a 
        discrepancy over whether cornstarch powder used as a medical product 
        lubricant could be one of many possible vehicles for exposure to latex 
        proteins;
Whereas glove use, primarily latex gloves, increased eightfold in the year 
        following the 1987 universal precautions mandated by the Centers for 
        Disease Control and Prevention requiring the use of protective barriers, 
        including gloves;
Whereas latex exposure is ubiquitous and over 40,000 consumer products contain 
        natural rubber latex;
Whereas adverse events reported to the Food and Drug Administration caused by 
        latex gloves and other latex-containing products include dermatitis, 
        edema, hives, itching, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, difficulty 
        breathing, anaphlylaxis, and, in some instances, death;
Whereas as of March 1999, the total number of latex allergy reactions associated 
        with latex-containing medical gloves reported to the Food and Drug 
        Administration was 2,330, including reports of 21 deaths, 5 of which 
        were associated with latex gloves;
Whereas an extremely small percentage of the population may have an allergic 
        reaction to natural rubber latex;
Whereas the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers 
        for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert in June 1997 
        requesting assistance in preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber 
        latex among workers who use gloves and other products containing latex;
Whereas it is vital that the American public become better educated regarding 
        the signs and symptoms of latex allergy as well as prevention 
        strategies; and
Whereas increased public awareness of possible exposure routes and natural 
        rubber latex-containing medical and nonmedical products, including 
        environmental exposure from powdered gloves and balloons, food 
        contaminated by workers wearing latex gloves, and thousands of consumer 
        products may help prevent allergic reactions to natural rubber latex 
        among patients, workers, and the general public, as well as reduce the 
        number of people who develop latex allergy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress should establish research funding, as 
        recommended by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and 
        Immunology, so that the causes of latex allergy, as well as 
        improved diagnostic, management, and prevention strategies, and 
        a cure for those affected, may be discovered;
            (2) a National Latex Allergy Week should be established to 
        raise public awareness about latex allergy and the importance 
        of the early detection, proper management, and practical 
        prevention tactics; and
            (3) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
        the people of the United States and interested organizations to 
        observe such a week with appropriate programs and activities.
                                 <all>
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