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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 237 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 237

   Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 
                        Disease Awareness Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2007

   Mr. Stearns (for himself and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                    Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
   Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 
                        Disease Awareness Month.

Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (``COPD'') is primarily associated 
        with emphysema and chronic bronchitis;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that 
        10,000,000 adults in the United States have been diagnosed by a 
        physician with COPD;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that 
        24,000,000 adults in the United States have symptoms of impaired lung 
        function, indicating COPD is underdiagnosed;
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible;
Whereas as COPD progresses, the airways alveoli in the lungs lose elasticity and 
        the airway walls collapse, closing off smaller airways and narrowing 
        larger ones;
Whereas symptoms of COPD include chronic coughing, shortness of breath, 
        increased effort to breath, increased mucus production, and frequent 
        clearing of the throat;
Whereas risk factors for COPD include long-term smoking, a family history of 
        COPD, exposure to air-pollution or second-hand smoke, and a history of 
        frequent childhood respiratory infections;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD report that their 
        condition limits their ability to work, sleep, and participate in social 
        and physical activities;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD feel they are not in 
        control of their breathing, panic when they cannot catch their breath, 
        and expect their condition to worsen;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 
        119,000 adults in the United States died of COPD in 2000, making COPD 
        the fourth leading cause of death in the United States;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that COPD 
        accounted for 8,000,000 office visits to doctors, 1,500,000 emergency 
        department visits, and 726,000 hospitalizations by adults in the United 
        States in 2000;
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or are not receiving 
        adequate treatment; and
Whereas Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month raises public 
        awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
        and the serious problems associated with the disease: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress supports the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive 
Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month.
                                 <all>
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