IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 381

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to pulmonary hypertension.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 18, 2002

Mr. BRADY of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to

pulmonary hypertension.

Whereas pulmonary hypertension (‘‘PH’’) is a rare lung disorder that historically has been chronic and incurable,

with a poor survival rate;

Whereas, in the United States, it has been estimated that

300 new cases of PH are diagnosed each year;

Whereas the greatest number of cases are reported in women

between the ages of 21 and 40, although PH can affect

men, women, and children at any age;

Whereas PH also affects people of all racial and ethnic origins equally;

Whereas about 6 to 10 percent of PH cases are familial;
2

•HCON 381 IH

Whereas, during the period January 1996 through December

1997, almost 6,000,000 Americans took anorexic drugs,

which can cause PH;

Whereas PH remains a diagnosis of exclusion and is rarely

detected in routine medical examinations;

Whereas, even in later stages, the signs of PH can be confused with other conditions affecting the heart and lungs;

Whereas one form of PH, known as secondary pulmonary hypertension (‘‘SPH’’), is caused by other diseases, and two

common causes of SPH are emphysema and bronchitis;

Whereas other causes are inflammatory or collagen vascular

disease such as schleroderma, CREST syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus;

Whereas early diagnosis can lead to early treatment and the

possibility of improved quality of life and prolonged life;

Whereas education can help with early diagnosis; and

Whereas the Congress as an institution, and Members of

Congress as individuals, are in unique positions to help

raise public awareness about the need for increased funding for research on and the detection and treatment of

pulmonary hypertension: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the role played by national and community

4 organizations and health care providers in promoting

5 awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, test6 ing, and ongoing screening for pulmonary hyper7 tension should be recognized and applauded;
3

•HCON 381 IH

1 (2) the Federal Government has a

2 responsibility—

3 (A) to endeavor to raise awareness about

4 the importance of the early detection of and

5 proper treatment for pulmonary hypertension;

6 (B) to increase funding for research so

7 that causes of and improved treatment for pul8 monary hypertension may be discovered; and

9 (C) to continue to consider ways to im10 prove access to quality health care services for

11 the early detection and treatment of pulmonary

12 hypertension;

13 (3) the Director of the National Heart, Lung,

14 and Blood Institute should continue to take a lead15 ership role in the fight against pulmonary hyper16 tension through the expansion of basic, clinical, and

17 genetic research;

18 (4) the Director of the Centers for Disease

19 Control and Prevention should give priority consider20 ation to the establishment of a pulmonary hyper21 tension awareness program aimed at the general

22 public and health care providers;

23 (5) a month should be established as National

24 Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month; and

25 (6) the President should issue a proclamation—
4

•HCON 381 IH

1 (A) recognizing a ‘‘National Pulmonary

2 Hypertension Awareness Month’’; and

3 (B) encouraging all health organizations in

4 the United States to host activities to promote

5 pulmonary hypertension awareness; and

6 (C) calling upon the people of the United

7 States to observe the month with appropriate

8 programs and activities.

Æ