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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 180 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 180

   Recognizing the sequencing of the human genome as one of the most 
   significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100 years and 
  expressing support for the designation of April 25, 2013, as ``DNA 
                                 Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2013

   Ms. Slaughter (for herself, Mr. Burgess, Ms. Schakowsky, and Ms. 
 Speier) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Recognizing the sequencing of the human genome as one of the most 
   significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100 years and 
  expressing support for the designation of April 25, 2013, as ``DNA 
                                 Day''.

Whereas April 25, 2013, is the 60th anniversary of the publication of the 
        description of the double-helical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid 
        (DNA) in the scientific journal Nature by James D. Watson and Francis 
        H.C. Crick, which is considered by many to be one of the most 
        significant scientific discoveries of the 20th century;
Whereas their discovery launched a field of inquiry that explained how DNA 
        encoded biological information and how this information is duplicated 
        and passed from generation to generation, forming the stream of life 
        that connects us all to our ancestors and to our descendants;
Whereas this field of inquiry in turn was crucial to the founding and continued 
        growth of the field of biotechnology and of genomics, which have led to 
        historic scientific advances for the world, advances in which the people 
        of the United States have played a leading role and from which they have 
        realized significant benefits;
Whereas from 1990 to 2003, genomic research centers in the United States and 
        around the world worked together on the Human Genome Project, which 
        elucidated the sequence of the human genome, the genetic blueprint of 
        the human body, and made that data available publicly;
Whereas April 14, 2013, marked the 10th anniversary of the Human Genome 
        Project's completion;
Whereas the sequencing of the human genome has already fostered research 
        discoveries that have led to advances in medicine, and as genome 
        sequencing becomes faster and less expensive, will enable researchers to 
        further improve human health and medical care;
Whereas the cost and time needed to sequence a human genome has decreased 
        rapidly, from $1,000,000,000 and 6 to 8 years during the Human Genome 
        Project to less than $5,000 and 2 to 3 days in 2013;
Whereas in 1990, when the Human Genome Project began, there were only 4 FDA-
        approved drugs with pharmacogenomic information on their labels, and 
        then by 2013, this number had increased to over 100;
Whereas a study conducted by the Battelle Institute found that for every dollar 
        of United States Federal investment in the Human Genome Project, there 
        was $141 in economic activity generated in return;
Whereas the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes 
        of Health has provided an exemplary model for social responsibility in 
        scientific research, by devoting significant resources and leadership to 
        studying the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics 
        research;
Whereas genomic medicine will be enhanced by increasing the public's awareness 
        and understanding of genomics; and
Whereas April 25, 2013, is an appropriate day to designate as ``DNA Day'' in 
        celebration of the 60th anniversary of the publication describing the 
        structure of DNA on April 25, 1953: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the sequencing of the human genome as one of 
        the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100 
        years;
            (2) honors the 60th anniversary of the outstanding 
        accomplishment of describing the structure of DNA and the 10th 
        anniversary of completing the Human Genome Project;
            (3) supports the designation of ``DNA Day''; and
            (4) encourages schools, museums, cultural organizations, 
        and other educational institutions in the United States to 
        recognize ``DNA Day'' with appropriate programs and activities 
        centered on human genomics.
                                 <all>
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