III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 550 

Designating September 13, 2012, as ‘‘National Celiac Disease Awareness 

Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 13, 2012, as ‘‘National Celiac 

Disease Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas according to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

celiac disease affects approximately 1 in every 141 people 

in the United States; 

Whereas the majority of people with celiac disease have yet 

to be diagnosed; 

Whereas celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder 

that is classified as both an autoimmune condition and 

a genetic condition; 

Whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the 

small intestine, which results in overall malnutrition; 


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•SRES 550 ATS 

Whereas when a person with celiac disease consumes foods 

that contain certain protein fractions, that person suffers 

a cell-mediated immune response that damages the villi 

of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of 

nutrients in food and the effectiveness of medications; 

Whereas such problematic protein fractions are found in 

wheat, barley, rye, and oats, which are used to produce 

many foods, medications, and vitamins; 

Whereas because celiac disease is a genetic disease, there is 

an increased incidence of celiac disease in families with 

a known history of celiac disease; 

Whereas celiac disease is underdiagnosed because the symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and are easily 

overlooked by doctors and patients; 

Whereas as recently as 2000, the average person with celiac 

disease waited 11 years for a correct diagnosis; 

Whereas 1⁄2 of all people with celiac disease do not show 

symptoms of the disease; 

Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed by tests that measure the 

blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 

immunoglobulin A, antitissue transglutaminase, and IgA 

antiendomysium antibodies; 

Whereas celiac disease can be treated only by implementing 

a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats, often called 

a ‘‘gluten-free diet’’; 

Whereas a delay in the diagnosis of celiac disease can result 

in damage to the small intestine, which leads to an increased risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage, congenital malformation, short stature, and disorders of the skin and 

other organs; 


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Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease, systemic lupus 

erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen 

vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjo ̈gren’s syndrome; 

Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was 

first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who wrote, ‘‘if the 

patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet’’; 

Whereas Dr. Samuel Gee was born on September 13, 1839; 

and 

Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness 

in the general public and the medical community of celiac 

disease: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 13, 2012, as ‘‘Na3 tional Celiac Disease Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes that all people of the United 

5 States should become more informed and aware of 

6 celiac disease; 

7 (3) calls upon the people of the United States 

8 to observe National Celiac Disease Awareness Day 

9 with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and 

10 (4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the 

11 Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

12 Celiac Sprue Association, the American Celiac Soci13 ety, and the Celiac Disease Foundation. 

Æ 


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