IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1454 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness Month’’ 

and ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness Day’’ in the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 17, 2010 

Mrs. HALVORSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘Chiari Malformation 

Awareness Month’’ and ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness 

Day’’ in the United States. 

Whereas Chiari Malformations are associated with structural 

defects of the skull base which can lead to compression 

on the lower parts of the brain and are estimated to affect 2,000,000 people in the United States; 

Whereas these changes lead to a downward protrusion of the 

lower part of the brain into the spinal canal thereby interrupting the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid 

that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) 

and the motion of the spinal cord, which can cause numerous symptoms; 

Whereas this condition can cause a range of symptoms including headache, numbness, dizziness, muscle weakness, 


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2 

•HRES 1454 IH 

vision problems, and potential problems with balance and 

coordination; 

Whereas Chiari Malformations are developed during fetal development, and, to date, there is no preventative treatment available; 

Whereas the most common treatment, once diagnosed, is an 

invasive surgical treatment called decompression, where 

the top bone or top several bones are removed in the neck 

and where the spinal fluid drains are widened to alleviate 

the pressure on the spinal cord, performed in order to 

correct symptoms or to help stop the progression of damage to the central nervous system; 

Whereas difficulty remains in determining the commonalities 

of Chiari Malformations, due to the fact that some people 

remain asymptomatic in adolescence, into adulthood, and 

can remain so their entire lives; 

Whereas the long-term side effects to leaving Chiari Malformations untreated are unknown, some patients that 

have been diagnosed for many years prior to treatment 

can sometimes experience permanent nerve damage, or in 

rare cases, may succumb to paralysis; 

Whereas Chiari Malformations have previously been believed 

to occur in about 1 in every 1,000 births, and continues 

to improve through continued research, frequency of detection, and diagnosis; 

Whereas further research and awareness is greatly needed to 

properly and appropriately combat this condition; 

Whereas a turquoise ribbon with a zipper is generally regarded as the symbol for Chiari Malformation Awareness, 

particularly by the Chiari Malformation advocacy organization, The Chiari Center Foundation; and 


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•HRES 1454 IH 

Whereas ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness Month’’ is celebrated in the month of September and ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness Day’’ is celebrated the first Saturday in 

September in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the goals and ideals of ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness 

3 Month’’ and ‘‘Chiari Malformation Awareness Day’’ in the 

4 United States. 

Æ 


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