IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 110 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Celiac Awareness Month, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2009 
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 3 
million people with celiac disease in the United States, 
yet only approximately 120,000 of those have been diag-
nosed; 
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 detri-
mental effects on the body, and the health care costs as-
sociated with celiac disease are unknown; 
Whereas people with celiac disease tend to have other auto-
immune diseases as well; 
Whereas it is estimated at approximately 10 percent of indi-
viduals with Type I Diabetes and an estimated 16 per-
cent of individuals with Down Syndrome have celiac dis-
ease; 
Whereas the only known treatment for celiac disease is strict 
adherence to a gluten-free diet; 
Whereas it is particularly important for students with celiac 
disease to have access to their medically prescribed diet 
while at school and in school-based activities; 
Whereas the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Ce-
liac Disease held in June 2004 found that consultation 
with a skilled dietitian and identification and treatment 
of nutritional deficiencies were key elements in the man-
agement of celiac disease; 
Whereas the consensus panel on celiac disease recommended 
the standardization of serologic tests and pathologic cri-
teria for the diagnosis of celiac disease, the adoption of 
a standard definition of a gluten-free diet based on objec-
tive evidence such as that being developed by the Amer-
ican Dietetic Association, and the development of an ade-
quate testing procedure to determine the amount of glu-
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ten in foods and of a definition of standards for gluten- 
free foods in the United States to lay the foundation for 
rational food labeling; 
Whereas increased recognition and awareness of celiac dis-
ease will have a significant positive impact on the quality 
of life of people with celiac disease; and 
Whereas numerous organizations recognize May as National 
Celiac Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
Celiac Awareness Month; 
(2) should work with health care providers and 
celiac disease advocacy and education organizations 
to encourage screening and early detection of celiac 
disease; and 
(3) should increase Federal funding for celiac 
disease research. 
Æ 
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