IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 314
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding women with bleeding disorders. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 29, 2003
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Ms. CARSON of Indi-
ana, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Ms. LEE, 
and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding women with 
bleeding disorders.
Whereas the lives of women are impacted by both congenital 
and inherited bleeding disorders as patients, asymp-
tomatic carriers, and caregivers; 
Whereas von Willebrand’s disease is the most common inher-
ited bleeding disorder; 
Whereas von Willebrand’s disease is characterized by 
menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding), frequent 
nosebleeds, recurrent bleeding from the mouth and gums 
often resulting in periodontal disease, swollen and painful 
joints, gastrointestinal bleeding, excessive bruising, post-
operative bleeding, and prolonged bleeding following 
minor injury;
•HCON 314 IH 
Whereas women are the primary caregivers and purchasers of 
health care in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Federal Government has a responsi-
bility—
(A) to further the research that is needed 
to identify a more accurate laboratory test for 
von Willebrand’s disease; 
(B) to increase funding for basic bio-
medical and psychosocial research on von 
Willebrand’s disease, rare blood disorders, and 
hemophilia; and 
(C) to continue to improve access to treat-
ment centers for all individuals with bleeding 
disorders; 
(2) the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health should take a leadership role in the fight 
against bleeding disorders in women by acting 
through appropriate offices within the National In-
stitutes of Health to provide Congress with a 5-year 
research plan for women with bleeding disorders; 
(3) the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention should continue the critical 
role of the Centers in improving outreach, treat-
•HCON 314 IH 
ment, and prevention of the complications of wom-
en’s bleeding disorders; 
(4) physicians should screen all adolescent fe-
males presenting with severe menorrhagia for von 
Willebrand’s disease before the initiation of hormone 
therapy in order to ensure that the treatment does 
not mask the diagnosis; 
(5) physicians should screen all women pre-
senting with menorrhagia for von Willebrand’s dis-
ease; 
(6) hysterectomies for excessive menstrual 
bleeding should not be performed without first con-
sidering whether the patient may have a bleeding 
disorder; 
(7) referral of a woman with a bleeding dis-
order to a federally sponsored hemophilia treatment 
center is critical to comprehensive treatment of 
women with bleeding disorders; 
(8) physicians should conduct clotting factor 
analyses for carrier diagnosis and to facilitate 
genotyping of the disorder, and patients should be 
referred for genetic counseling when appropriate; 
and 
(9) patient advocate organizations and medical 
specialty societies should continue to collaborate on
•HCON 314 IH 
public education campaigns to educate women about 
bleeding disorders.
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