IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 70 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Celiac Awareness Month, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2007 

Mrs. LOWEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Celiac Awareness 

Month, and for other purposes. 

Whereas celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, is a genetic 

autoimmune disease that affects 1 of every 133 people in 

the United States; 

Whereas research indicates that there are approximately 

2,500,000 people with celiac disease in the United States, 

yet only approximately 80,000 of those have been diagnosed; 

Whereas approximately 1 in 22 first-degree relatives of people 

diagnosed with celiac disease will also be diagnosed with 

celiac disease; 


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Whereas the average time frame for diagnosing celiac disease 

in the United States is 11 years from the original onset 

of symptoms; 

Whereas celiac disease affects equal percentages of men and 

women; 

Whereas celiac disease may have severe and varied detrimental effects on the body, and the health care costs associated with celiac disease are unknown; 

Whereas people with celiac disease tend to have other autoimmune diseases as well; 

Whereas the only known treatment for celiac disease is strict 

adherence to a gluten-free diet; 

Whereas the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease held in June 2004 found that consultation 

with a skilled dietitian and identification and treatment 

of nutritional deficiencies were key elements in the management of celiac disease; 

Whereas the consensus panel on celiac disease recommended 

the standardization of serologic tests and pathologic criteria for the diagnosis of celiac disease, the adoption of 

a standard definition of a gluten-free diet based on objective evidence such as that being developed by the American Dietetic Association, and the development of an adequate testing procedure to determine the amount of gluten in foods and of a definition of standards for glutenfree foods in the United States to lay the foundation for 

rational food labeling; 

Whereas increased recognition and awareness of celiac disease will have a significant positive impact on the quality 

of life of people with celiac disease; 


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Whereas the Celiac Disease Foundation has designated May 

as National Celiac Awareness Month; and 

Whereas the Association of European Celiac Societies has 

designated May 19 through 25 as International Celiac 

Awareness Week: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

4 Celiac Awareness Month; 

5 (2) should work with health care providers and 

6 celiac disease advocacy and education organizations 

7 to encourage screening and early detection of celiac 

8 disease; and 

9 (3) should increase Federal funding for celiac 

10 disease research. 

Æ 


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