IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 237 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
Awareness Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 16, 2007 
Mr. STEARNS (for himself and Mr. LEWIS of Georgia) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
and 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 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
have estimated that 10,000,000 adults in the United 
States have been diagnosed by a physician with COPD; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
have estimated that 24,000,000 adults in the United 
States have symptoms of impaired lung function, indi-
cating COPD is underdiagnosed; 
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:57 Oct 17, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC237.IH
HC237
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
•HCON 237 IH 
Whereas as COPD progresses, the airways 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 breath, 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, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, nearly 119,000 adults in the United States 
died of COPD in 2000, making COPD the fourth leading 
cause of death in the United States; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention esti-
mated that COPD accounted for 8,000,000 office visits 
to doctors, 1,500,000 emergency department visits, and 
726,000 hospitalizations by adults in the United States 
in 2000; 
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or 
are not receiving adequate treatment; and 
Whereas Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness 
Month raises public awareness about the prevalence of 
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:57 Oct 17, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC237.IH
HC237
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
•HCON 237 IH 
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 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:57 Oct 17, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC237.IH
HC237
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS