IV
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 381
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to pulmonary hypertension.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 18, 2002
Mr. BRADY of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to
pulmonary hypertension.
Whereas pulmonary hypertension (‘‘PH’’) is a rare lung dis-
order that historically has been chronic and incurable,
with a poor survival rate;
Whereas, in the United States, it has been estimated that
300 new cases of PH are diagnosed each year;
Whereas the greatest number of cases are reported in women
between the ages of 21 and 40, although PH can affect
men, women, and children at any age;
Whereas PH also affects people of all racial and ethnic ori-
gins equally;
Whereas about 6 to 10 percent of PH cases are familial;
•HCON 381 IH
Whereas, during the period January 1996 through December
1997, almost 6,000,000 Americans took anorexic drugs,
which can cause PH;
Whereas PH remains a diagnosis of exclusion and is rarely
detected in routine medical examinations;
Whereas, even in later stages, the signs of PH can be con-
fused with other conditions affecting the heart and lungs;
Whereas one form of PH, known as secondary pulmonary hy-
pertension (‘‘SPH’’), is caused by other diseases, and two
common causes of SPH are emphysema and bronchitis;
Whereas other causes are inflammatory or collagen vascular
disease such as schleroderma, CREST syndrome, or sys-
temic lupus erythematosus;
Whereas early diagnosis can lead to early treatment and the
possibility of improved quality of life and prolonged life;
Whereas education can help with early diagnosis; and
Whereas the Congress as an institution, and Members of
Congress as individuals, are in unique positions to help
raise public awareness about the need for increased fund-
ing for research on and the detection and treatment of
pulmonary hypertension: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the role played by national and community
organizations and health care providers in promoting
awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, test-
ing, and ongoing screening for pulmonary hyper-
tension should be recognized and applauded;
•HCON 381 IH
(2) 
the 
Federal 
Government 
has 
a
responsibility—
(A) to endeavor to raise awareness about
the importance of the early detection of and
proper treatment for pulmonary hypertension;
(B) to increase funding for research so
that causes of and improved treatment for pul-
monary hypertension may be discovered; and
(C) to continue to consider ways to im-
prove access to quality health care services for
the early detection and treatment of pulmonary
hypertension;
(3) the Director of the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute should continue to take a lead-
ership role in the fight against pulmonary hyper-
tension through the expansion of basic, clinical, and
genetic research;
(4) the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention should give priority consider-
ation to the establishment of a pulmonary hyper-
tension awareness program aimed at the general
public and health care providers;
(5) a month should be established as National
Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month; and
(6) the President should issue a proclamation—
•HCON 381 IH
(A) recognizing a ‘‘National Pulmonary
Hypertension Awareness Month’’; and
(B) encouraging all health organizations in
the United States to host activities to promote
pulmonary hypertension awareness; and
(C) calling upon the people of the United
States to observe the month with appropriate
programs and activities.
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