IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 157 
Expressing support for the designation of the last day of February each 
year, as ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 28, 2017 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. 
CROWLEY, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. LANCE, Mr. MACARTHUR, Mr. MARINO, 
Ms. MOORE, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. PETERS) submitted the following res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of the last day of 
February each year, as ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’. 
Whereas rare diseases and disorders are those which affect 
small patient populations, typically populations smaller 
than 200,000 individuals in the United States; 
Whereas nearly 7,000 rare diseases affect nearly 30,000,000 
people in the United States and their families; 
Whereas over half of all rare diseases affect children; 
Whereas many rare diseases are serious, life-threatening, and 
lack an effective treatment; 
Whereas rare diseases and conditions cross the medical spec-
trum and include a broad range of diseases such as 
epidermolysis bullosa, progeria, sickle cell anemia, Tay- 
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•HRES 157 IH 
Sachs, Leigh’s disease, WAGR syndrome, cystic fibrosis, 
most childhood cancers, fibrodysplasia ossificans progres-
siva, Friedreich’s ataxia, and tuberous sclerosis; 
Whereas people with rare diseases experience challenges that 
include difficulty in obtaining an accurate diagnosis, lim-
ited treatment options, and difficulty finding physicians 
or treatment centers with expertise in their disease; 
Whereas more than 450 drugs and biologics have been ap-
proved for the treatment of rare diseases according to the 
Food and Drug Administration, millions of people in the 
United States have rare diseases for which there is no 
approved treatment; 
Whereas challenges to reimbursement for life-altering and 
often life-saving treatments still exist, such as in reim-
bursement for medical foods that treat rare metabolic 
disorders; 
Whereas great strides have been made in research and treat-
ment for rare diseases as a result of the Orphan Drug 
Act and amendments made by that Act; 
Whereas the Food and Drug Administration has taken great 
strides in involving the patient in the drug review process 
as part of its Patient-Focused Drug Development pro-
gram, an initiative that originated in the Food and Drug 
Administration Safety and Innovation Act; 
Whereas both the Food and Drug Administration and the 
National Institutes of Health have established special of-
fices to advocate for rare disease research and treat-
ments; 
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, 
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•HRES 157 IH 
was a primary force behind the enactment of the Orphan 
Drug Act and remains a critical public voice for people 
with rare diseases; 
Whereas the National Organization for Rare Disorders spon-
sors ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’ in the United States to increase 
public awareness of rare diseases; 
Whereas ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’ is a global event occurring an-
nually on the last day of February; 
Whereas ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’ was observed in the United 
States for the first time on February 28, 2009; and 
Whereas ‘‘Rare Disease Day’’ is anticipated to continue to be 
observed globally in years to come, providing hope and in-
formation for rare disease patients around the world: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Rare Disease 
Day’’; 
(2) recognizes the importance of improving 
awareness and encouraging accurate and early diag-
nosis of rare diseases and disorders; and 
(3) supports a national and global commitment 
to improving access to, and developing new treat-
ments, diagnostics, and cures for, rare diseases and 
disorders. 
Æ 
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