IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 6 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
Awareness Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2003 
Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. FORBES, Mr. TERRY, 
and Mr. HINCHEY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive 
Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month. 
Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (‘‘COPD’’) is 
primarily associated with emphysema and chronic bron-
chitis; 
Whereas an estimated 10,000,000 adults in the United States 
have been diagnosed by a physician with COPD; 
Whereas an estimated 24,000,000 adults in the United States 
have symptoms of impaired lung function, indicating that 
COPD is underdiagnosed; 
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible; 
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Whereas as COPD progresses, the airways and alveoli in the 
lungs lose elasticity and the airway walls collapse, closing 
off smaller airways and narrowing larger ones; 
Whereas symptoms of COPD include chronic coughing, short-
ness of breath, increased effort to breathe, increased 
mucus production, and frequent clearing of the throat; 
Whereas risk factors for COPD include long-term smoking, 
a family history of COPD, exposure to air pollution or 
second-hand smoke, and a history of frequent childhood 
respiratory infections; 
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD 
report that their condition limits their ability to work, 
sleep, and participate in social and physical activities; 
Whereas more than half of all adults who suffer from COPD 
feel they are not in control of their breathing, panic when 
they cannot catch their breath, and expect their condition 
to worsen; 
Whereas nearly 119,000 adults died in the United States of 
COPD in 2000, making COPD the fourth leading cause 
of death in the United States; 
Whereas COPD accounted for 8,000,000 office visits to doc-
tors, 1,500,000 emergency department visits, and 
726,000 hospitalizations by adults in the United States 
in 2000; 
Whereas COPD cost the economy of the United States an es-
timated $32,100,000,000 in 2002; 
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or 
are not receiving adequate treatment; and 
Whereas the establishment of a Chronic Obstructive Pul-
monary Disease Awareness Month would raise public 
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awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated 
with the disease: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals 
of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness 
Month. 
Æ 
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