IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 361 
Expressing support for the designation of May 7 each year as ‘‘Brain 
Donation Awareness Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 5, 2023 
Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. DELBENE, and Mr. 
BACON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of May 7 each year 
as ‘‘Brain Donation Awareness Day’’. 
Whereas hundreds of millions of Americans are currently liv-
ing with disabling and debilitating brain disorders; 
Whereas an additional 1,200,000 people aged 18 years and 
older are diagnosed annually with adult onset brain dis-
ease or disorders in the United States; 
Whereas neurological conditions impact Americans of all 
ages, but the risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases 
dramatically with age; 
Whereas the number of older Americans is growing rapidly, 
and more people will be affected by neurodegenerative 
diseases in coming decades; 
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•HRES 361 IH 
Whereas brain disease has a tremendous impact on individ-
uals, families, and society; 
Whereas there is a critical need to improve the understanding 
of 
what 
causes 
neurological 
diseases, 
including 
neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric 
disorders, to develop new approaches for prevention and 
treatment; 
Whereas, in 2022, 6,500,000 Americans were estimated to be 
living with Alzheimer’s disease; 
Whereas an estimated 1,200,000 people in the United States 
could be living with Parkinson’s disease by 2030; 
Whereas about 1 in 6 children in the United States has 1 or 
more developmental disabilities or other developmental 
delays; 
Whereas serious mental illness is rising, with over 58,000,000 
Americans experiencing a mental illness in 2021; 
Whereas 46,300,000 people aged 12 or older in the United 
States reported having substance use disorder in 2021; 
Whereas the underlying causes of most neurological condi-
tions remain largely unknown due to the vast complexity 
of the human brain; 
Whereas through research, the underlying causes of a greater 
number of neurological conditions can be understood; 
Whereas the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the 
National Institutes of Health (NIH) support research on 
new ways to treat, cure, and prevent neurological condi-
tions; 
Whereas the Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and 
Research of the FDA testified before Congress in 2021 
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•HRES 361 IH 
that the field of neuroscience requires more research to 
develop new, safe, and effective treatments; 
Whereas the NIH and institutes within the NIH launched the 
Brain 
Research 
Through 
Advancing 
Innovative 
Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative in 2013 and con-
tinue to partner with a number of Federal agencies and 
private sector partners on the BRAIN Initiative; 
Whereas the NIH-funded NeuroBioBank was established in 
September 2013 as a national resource for investigators 
utilizing human post mortem brain tissue and related bio-
specimens for their research to understand conditions of 
the nervous system; 
Whereas post mortem brain tissue is an irreplaceable re-
source in brain research; 
Whereas there is a critical need to increase the availability 
of human diseased and control brains and related bio-
specimens; 
Whereas one brain can provide tissue for dozens, even hun-
dreds, of neurological studies; 
Whereas communities of color and poverty are underrep-
resented and understudied in neurological research; 
Whereas through awareness, the public can be educated on 
how brain donation for neuroscience research is not a 
routine part of organ donation or anatomical body dona-
tion; 
Whereas racial and ethnic minorities account for nearly 40 
percent of the United States population and their rates 
of inclusion in clinical trials range from 2 to 16 percent; 
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•HRES 361 IH 
Whereas disparities in health status are associated with dif-
ferences in socioeconomic status, whether measured by 
income, educational achievement, or occupation; 
Whereas minority and low-income communities are dispropor-
tionately impacted by neurological conditions; 
Whereas only 4 percent of all neurological disorder research 
contained in the genome-wide association studies data-
base of the National Human Genome Research Institute 
includes minority participants; 
Whereas racial and socioeconomic diversity is paramount 
among brain donors so that research can investigate how 
and why neurological diseases and disorders dispropor-
tionately affect minority and low-income communities; 
Whereas the Brain Donor Project and the American Brain 
Coalition sponsor ‘‘Brain Donation Awareness Day’’ in 
the United States and partner with many other organiza-
tions to increase public awareness of neurological condi-
tions and the importance of brain research; and 
Whereas ‘‘Brain Donation Awareness Day’’ is expected to be 
observed in the United States for years to come, pro-
viding hope and information for patients, caregivers, and 
families around the country: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Brain Dona-
tion Awareness Day’’; and 
(2) recognizes the importance of, with respect 
to neurological conditions and disorders— 
(A) improving awareness; 
(B) research; 
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(C) supporting national efforts to develop 
effective treatments, diagnostics, and cures; 
(D) supporting national efforts to address 
the urgent need for post mortem brain tissue, 
both control and diseased; and 
(E) educating on the importance of brain 
donation to support national research efforts. 
Æ 
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