III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 576 

Designating September 4, 2018, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kidney Disease 

Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic 

kidney disease. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 18, 2018 

Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. NELSON) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 4, 2018, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and 

understanding of polycystic kidney disease. 

Whereas designating September 4, 2018, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’ will raise public 

awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease, one of the most prevalent, life-threatening genetic 

kidney diseases; 

Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day 

will help to foster an understanding of the impact polycystic kidney disease has on patients and their families; 

Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a progressive, genetic 

disorder of the kidneys that causes damage to the kidVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:31 Jul 18, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR576.IS SR576

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•SRES 576 IS 

neys and the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gastrointestinal organ systems; 

Whereas polycystic kidney disease has a devastating impact 

on the health and finances of people of all ages, and 

equally affects people of all races, genders, nationalities, 

geographic locations, and income levels; 

Whereas, of the people diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, approximately 10 percent have no family history of 

the disease, with the disease developing as a spontaneous 

(or new) mutation; 

Whereas there are very few treatments and still no cure for 

polycystic kidney disease, which is one of the 4 leading 

causes of kidney failure in the United States; 

Whereas 50 percent of patients with polycystic kidney disease 

suffer kidney failure at an average age of 53, causing a 

severe strain on dialysis and kidney transplantation resources and on the delivery of health care in the United 

States; 

Whereas polycystic kidney disease instills in patients fear of 

an unknown future with a life-threatening genetic disease 

and apprehension over possible discrimination, including 

the risk of losing their health and life insurance, their 

jobs, and their chances for promotion; 

Whereas countless friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers of patients with polycystic kidney disease must 

shoulder the physical, emotional, and financial burdens 

that polycystic kidney disease causes; 

Whereas the severity of the symptoms of polycystic kidney 

disease and the limited public awareness of the disease 

cause many patients to live in denial and forego regular 

visits to their physicians or avoid following good health 


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management, which would help avoid more severe complications when kidney failure occurs; 

Whereas people who have chronic, life-threatening diseases 

like polycystic kidney disease have a predisposition to depression because of their anxiety over pain, suffering, and 

premature death; 

Whereas the PKD Foundation and its more than 50 volunteer chapters around the United States are dedicated 

to— 

(1) conducting research to find treatments and a 

cure for polycystic kidney disease; 

(2) fostering public awareness and understanding of 

polycystic kidney disease; 

(3) educating patients and their families about the 

disease to improve their treatment and care; and 

(4) providing support, including by sponsoring the 

annual ‘‘Walk for PKD’’ to raise funds for polycystic kidney disease research, education, advocacy, and awareness; 

and 

Whereas the PKD Foundation is partnering on September 4, 

2018, with sister organizations in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and other countries to increase international awareness of polycystic kidney disease: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 4, 2018, as ‘‘National 

3 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

5 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day to raise 


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1 public awareness and understanding of polycystic 

2 kidney disease; 

3 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 

4 to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and 

5 (4) encourages all people in the United States 

6 and interested groups to support National Polycystic 

7 Kidney Awareness Day through appropriate cere8 monies and activities to promote public awareness of 

9 polycystic kidney disease, and to foster an under10 standing of the impact of the disease on patients 

11 and their families. 

Æ 


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