IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 919 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
Awareness Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2009 
Mr. STEARNS (for himself and Mr. LEWIS of Georgia) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive 
Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month. 
Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in-
cludes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, refractory asthma, 
and bronchiectasis and is always preventable and almost 
always treatable; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated 
12,000,000 Americans have been diagnosed with COPD; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated 
24,000,000 adults in the United States have symptoms 
of impaired lung function, indicating that COPD is under 
diagnosed; 
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•HRES 919 IH 
Whereas COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible but 
early detection can allow individuals to treat and manage 
COPD; 
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 according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention nearly 126,000 adults die in the United 
States of COPD on an annual basis, making COPD the 
fourth leading cause of death in the United States; 
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention COPD afflicts men and women equally, more 
women then men die from COPD each year; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ex-
pects COPD to be the third leading cause of death in the 
United States by 2020; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health have estimated 
COPD costs an estimated $42,600,000,000 in direct and 
indirect costs in 2007; 
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•HRES 919 IH 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
states that currently no national data source exists that 
is sufficiently large enough to allow for State level esti-
mates of COPD prevalence; 
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 
awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated 
with the disease: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 
the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 
Disease Awareness Month. 
Æ 
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