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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 590 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 590

      Designating March 15, 2024, as ``Long COVID Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 14, 2024

Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. 
Smith, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Baldwin) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
      Designating March 15, 2024, as ``Long COVID Awareness Day''.

Whereas Long COVID is a systemic and often debilitating and disabling long-term 
        outcome of an acute COVID-19 infection;
Whereas Long COVID has the potential to worsen pre-existing health conditions 
        and can cause death months to years after an acute COVID-19 infection;
Whereas there are more than 200 documented Long COVID symptoms, which can vary 
        from person to person and can include fatigue, cognitive impairment, 
        muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep 
        difficulties, mood changes, and damage to organ systems and tissue;
Whereas Long COVID can trigger other infection-associated chronic conditions 
        such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and other forms of 
        dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, myalgic 
        encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and many others;
Whereas there is no single diagnostic test or protocol to confirm a Long COVID 
        diagnosis;
Whereas many providers are unprepared to identify, diagnose, or treat Long COVID 
        due to a lack of education and information, and some providers refrain 
        from making a Long COVID diagnosis at all;
Whereas, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, there are 22,000,000 adults and 1,000,000 children currently 
        living with Long COVID in the United States, and there are likely more;
Whereas Long COVID disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, 
        women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with lower 
        incomes;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of 
        Justice have issued guidance clarifying that Long COVID can be 
        considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
        1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
Whereas Long COVID has had a devastating financial impact on individuals and on 
        the overall economy with an estimated economic cost of 
        $3,700,000,000,000 due to reduced quality of life, lost earnings, and 
        direct medical care spending for those who suffer from Long COVID;
Whereas people with Long COVID are 10 percent less likely to be employed and 
        those who are employed work 50 percent fewer hours than people without 
        Long COVID;
Whereas there may be as many as 4,000,000 fewer workers in the United States 
        workforce due to the impact of the disease;
Whereas there are no approved cures for Long COVID, and most of the treatments 
        involve addressing individual symptoms using established therapies; and
Whereas investing in Long COVID research and promoting the development of 
        treatment and diagnostic tools remain priorities to improve the quality 
        of life for those impacted by Long COVID: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 15, 2024, as ``Long COVID Awareness 
        Day'';
            (2) recognizes patients and their families and caregivers 
        who are affected by Long COVID;
            (3) commends the work of doctors and researchers who 
        continue to advance the study of Long COVID; and
            (4) encourages relevant Federal agencies--
                    (A) to expand research efforts to develop effective 
                treatments, diagnostics, and cures;
                    (B) to publish information on Long COVID to educate 
                the public and providers about the impact of the 
                condition; and
                    (C) to make every effort to ensure that patients 
                and their families and caregivers receive adequate 
                support and care.
                                 <all>
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