Designating February 28, 2015, as Rare Disease Day.

Designating February 28, 2015, as Rare Disease Day Whereas a rare disease or disorder is one that affects a small number of patients in the United States, typically less than 200,000 individuals annually; Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, nearly 7,000 rare diseases affect approximately 30,000,000 people in the United States and their families; Whereas children with rare genetic diseases account for more than half of the population affected by rare diseases in the United States; Whereas many rare diseases are serious, life-threatening, and lack an effective treatment; Whereas great strides have been made in research and treatment for rare diseases as a result of the Orphan Drug Act ( Public Law 97414 Whereas the Food and Drug Administration has made great strides in involving the patient in the drug review process as part of its Patient-Focused Drug Development program, an initiative that originated in the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act ( Public Law 112144 Whereas although more than 450 drugs and biological products for the treatment of rare diseases have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, millions of people in the United States have a rare disease for which there is no such approved treatment; Whereas lack of access to effective treatments and difficulty in obtaining reimbursement for life-altering, and even life-saving, treatments still exist and remain significant challenges for people with rare diseases and their families; Whereas rare diseases and conditions include epidermolysis bullosa, progeria, sickle cell anemia, spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, many childhood cancers, and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva; Whereas people with rare diseases experience challenges that include difficulty in obtaining accurate diagnoses, limited treatment options, and difficulty finding physicians or treatment centers with expertise in their diseases; Whereas the rare disease community made great strides during the 113th Congress, including the passage of the National Pediatric Research Network Act ( Public Law 11355 Whereas both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have established special offices to advocate for rare disease research and treatments; Whereas the National Organization for Rare Disorders, an organization established in 1983 to provide services to and advocate on behalf of patients with rare diseases, remains a critical public voice for people with rare diseases; Whereas 2015 marks the 32nd anniversary of the enactment of the Orphan Drug Act and the establishment of the National Organization for Rare Disorders; Whereas on February 25, 2015, more than 200 rare disease advocates shared their stories on Capitol Hill on behalf of the rare disease community and asked lawmakers to enhance public policy to help rare disease patients; Whereas the National Organization for Rare Disorders sponsors Rare Disease Day in the United States and partners with many other major rare disease organizations to increase public awareness of rare diseases; Whereas Rare Disease Day is observed each year on the last day of February; Whereas Rare Disease Day is a global event, first observed in the United States on February 28, 2009, and observed in 84 countries in 2014; and Whereas Rare Disease Day is expected to be observed globally for years to come, providing hope and information for rare disease patients around the world: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) designates February 28, 2015, as Rare Disease Day (2) recognizes the importance of improving awareness and encouraging accurate and early diagnosis of rare diseases and disorders; and (3) supports a national and global commitment to improving access to and developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.

Summary: Designates February 28, 2015, as Rare Disease Day. Expresses support for a national and global commitment to developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.