III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 563 

Designating September 13, 2006, as ‘‘National Celiac Disease Awareness 

Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2006 

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

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 13, 2006, as ‘‘National Celiac 

Disease Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas celiac disease affects 2,200,000 people in the United 

States, including 1 in 133 healthy people; 

Whereas celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a protein 

found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley, as well as some 

medicines and vitamins; 

Whereas exposure to gluten damages the villi of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients in 

food; 

Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder and a malabsorption disease; 

Whereas celiac disease is a genetic disease, with 1 in 22 people having a first-degree relative with celiac disease; 


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•SRES 563 ATS 

Whereas the average length of time it takes for a symptomatic person to be diagnosed with celiac disease is 11 

years; 

Whereas celiac disease is often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed due to the fact that symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and many doctors are not very 

knowledgeable about the disease; 

Whereas, according to a study, 60 percent of children and 41 

percent of adults diagnosed with celiac disease were 

asymptomatic; 

Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed through tests measuring 

the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 

immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA 

anti-endomysium antibodies; 

Whereas celiac disease is treated by following a gluten-free 

diet; 

Whereas damage to the small intestine leads to an increased 

risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma and adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage and congenital malformation, and short stature; 

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 Sjo ̈gren’s syndrome; 

Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was 

first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who was born on 

September 13, 1839; and 

Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness 

in the general public and the medical community of celiac 

disease: Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 563 ATS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 13, 2006, as ‘‘Na3 tional Celiac Disease Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes that all people of 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 

15 Celiac Support Group. 

Æ 


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