IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 821 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) 

Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2023 

Mr. VALADAO (for himself, Mr. COSTA, Ms. BROWN, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. JOYCE

of Ohio, and Mr. MCCARTHY) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘Creutzfeldt-Jakob 

Disease (CJD) Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (referred to in this resolution as ‘‘CJD’’) is a rare, fatal brain disorder within 

a group of illnesses called prion diseases; 

Whereas CJD occurs in approximately 1 to 2 cases per million individuals each year, resulting in approximately 500 

cases annually in the United States, 85 percent of which 

are designated as sporadic, with no known causes, while 

10 to 15 percent are deemed genetic and fewer than 1 

percent are deemed acquired; 

Whereas, in the early stages of the disease, CJD patients 

may exhibit failing memory, behavioral changes, impaired 

coordination, and visual disturbances, and as the illness 


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•HRES 821 IH 

progresses, and mental deterioration becomes more pronounced while involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities, and ultimately coma may occur; 

Whereas CJD typically leads to death within a few months 

to 1 year following the onset of symptoms; 

Whereas comprehensive prion disease surveillance is critical 

in order to develop more efficient detection methods, and 

to determine whether humans can acquire the disease 

through the consumption of prion contaminated beef 

(known to cause Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 

(BSE) or ‘‘mad cow’’ disease) or meat from elk and deer 

affected by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD); 

Whereas continued prion disease surveillance, particularly 

through examination of postmortem human brain tissue, 

is imperative to evaluate whether CWD has or can spread 

to humans; 

Whereas Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias 

(ADRD) research could benefit from the study of prion 

diseases, like CJD; 

Whereas caregiver and health services research of ADRD 

should be applied to prion diseases, like CJD, which 

shares many of the same challenges; 

Whereas the families and communities affected by CJD have 

a compelling story due to the rarity and rapid effects of 

the disease; 

Whereas from the time of diagnosis CJD presents unique 

challenges and burdens for patients, their family members and caregivers given the rapidly progressive nature 

of this devastating disease; and 

Whereas the establishment of November 12, 2023, as 

‘‘Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Awareness Day’’ 


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•HRES 821 IH 

would raise awareness about this rare, rapidly progressive, and invariably fatal disease: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of 

3 ‘‘Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Awareness Day’’; 

4 and 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of raising aware6 ness of this rare brain disorder. 

Æ 


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