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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 429 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 429

Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
      National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2002

Ms. Kilpatrick (for herself, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Bonior, Mr. McNulty, Ms. 
   Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. McCarthy of Missouri, Ms. McKinney, Mr. 
Waxman, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Owens, Ms. Kaptur, 
 and Mr. Bishop) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
      National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas sarcoidosis is an autoimmune systemic disease with no known cause or 
        cure that can affect any part of the body;
Whereas sarcoidosis affects between 20 and 50 of every 100,000 individuals in 
        the United States;
Whereas most victims of sarcoidosis range in age between 20 and 40 years, with 
        African Americans affected at least 10 times more often than other 
        ethnic groups in the United States;
Whereas between 10 to 20 percent of individuals stricken with sarcoidosis 
        eventually develop serious disabling conditions caused by damage to 
        vital organs, such as the lungs, heart, and central nervous system;
Whereas sarcoidosis is an enigma in the realm of medicine requiring extensive 
        and ongoing study and research to develop an effective treatment and 
        eventually a cure;
Whereas in the United States, individuals with sarcoidosis and their family 
        members are seeking treatment and support services to assist in 
        controlling the effects of sarcoidosis;
Whereas grassroots support groups and nonprofit organizations are forming across 
        the United States to encourage public awareness of sarcoidosis;
Whereas the establishment of a National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day on September 
        24, 2002, would encourage public education on sarcoidosis and support 
        research for better treatment options and a cure;
Whereas the Federal Government has a responsibility to lead a nationwide effort 
        to find a cure for sarcoidosis; and
Whereas the Federal Government should make research into the causes of 
        sarcoidosis a greater priority and provide the public with more 
        information about potential treatments for individuals with this life-
        threatening ailment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) a National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day should be 
        established to encourage public education on sarcoidosis and 
        support research for better treatment options and a cure;
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon 
        the people of the United States to observe such a day with 
        appropriate ceremonies and activities;
            (3) all people in the United States should take an active 
        role in combatting sarcoidosis by undergoing regular, routine 
        chest x-rays;
            (4) national and community organizations should be 
        recognized and applauded for their work in promoting awareness 
        about sarcoidosis and for providing information and support to 
        its sufferers;
            (5) health care providers should continue to increase their 
        efforts to diagnose the disease in its earliest possible 
        stages; and
            (6) the Federal Government has a responsibility to--
                    (A) endeavor to raise awareness about the 
                importance of the early detection and proper treatment 
                of sarcoidosis;
                    (B) work to increase research funding so that the 
                causes of, and improved treatment and a cure for, 
                sarcoidosis may be discovered; and
                    (C) continue to consider ways to improve access to, 
                and the quality of, health care services for detecting 
                and treating sarcoidosis.
                                 <all>
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