IV

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;
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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

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

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

3 (1) a National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day

4 should be established to encourage public education
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1 on sarcoidosis and support research for better treat2 ment options and a cure;

3 (2) the President should issue a proclamation

4 calling upon the people of the United States to ob5 serve such a day with appropriate ceremonies and

6 activities;

7 (3) all people in the United States should take

8 an active role in combatting sarcoidosis by under9 going regular, routine chest x-rays;

10 (4) national and community organizations

11 should be recognized and applauded for their work

12 in promoting awareness about sarcoidosis and for

13 providing information and support to its sufferers;

14 (5) health care providers should continue to in15 crease their efforts to diagnose the disease in its ear16 liest possible stages; and

17 (6) the Federal Government has a responsibility

18 to—

19 (A) endeavor to raise awareness about the

20 importance of the early detection and proper

21 treatment of sarcoidosis;

22 (B) work to increase research funding so

23 that the causes of, and improved treatment and

24 a cure for, sarcoidosis may be discovered; and
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1 (C) continue to consider ways to improve

2 access to, and the quality of, health care serv3 ices for detecting and treating sarcoidosis.

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