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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 919 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 919

   Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 
                        Disease Awareness Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2009

   Mr. Stearns (for himself and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 
                        Disease Awareness Month.

Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes chronic 
        bronchitis, emphysema, refractory asthma, and bronchiectasis and is 
        always preventable and almost always treatable;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated 12,000,000 Americans 
        have been diagnosed with COPD;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated 24,000,000 adults in 
        the United States have symptoms of impaired lung function, indicating 
        that COPD is under diagnosed;
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible but early detection can 
        allow individuals to treat and manage COPD;
Whereas symptoms of COPD include chronic coughing, shortness of breath, 
        increased effort to breathe, increased mucus production, and frequent 
        clearing of the throat;
Whereas risk factors for COPD include long-term smoking, a family history of 
        COPD, exposure to air pollution or second-hand smoke, and a history of 
        frequent childhood respiratory infections;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD report that their 
        condition limits their ability to work, sleep, and participate in social 
        and physical activities;
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD feel they are not in 
        control of their breathing, panic when they cannot catch their breath, 
        and expect their condition to worsen;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nearly 
        126,000 adults die in the United States of COPD on an annual basis, 
        making COPD the fourth leading cause of death in the United States;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COPD 
        afflicts men and women equally, more women then men die from COPD each 
        year;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects COPD to be the 
        third leading cause of death in the United States by 2020;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated COPD costs an estimated 
        $42,600,000,000 in direct and indirect costs in 2007;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that currently no 
        national data source exists that is sufficiently large enough to allow 
        for State level estimates of COPD prevalence;
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or are not receiving 
        adequate treatment; and
Whereas the establishment of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness 
        Month would raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic 
        obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with 
        the disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and 
ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month.
                                 <all>
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