IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 97
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to pulmonary hypertension. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2003
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 97 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;
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(2) the Federal Government has a responsi-
bility—
(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—
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(A) recognizing a ‘‘National Pulmonary 
Hypertension Awareness Month’’; 
(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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