Title: A resolution supporting the goals of International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the goals of International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 225 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 225

Supporting the goals of International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic 
                    Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 23 (legislative day, May 22), 2019

 Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
  Coons, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Booker, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
King, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Casey, Ms. Harris, and Ms. Warren) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals of International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic 
                    Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day.

Whereas the National Academy of Medicine (referred to in this preamble as 
        ``NAM''), formerly known as the Institute of Medicine, has found Myalgic 
        Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (referred to in this preamble 
        as ``ME/CFS'') to be ``a serious, chronic, complex, and systemic disease 
        that frequently and dramatically limits the activities of affected 
        patients'';
Whereas between 836,000 and 2,500,000 individuals of all ages, races, and sexes 
        in the United States are believed to be afflicted with ME/CFS, with 
        millions more afflicted by ME/CFS worldwide, and the vast majority of 
        individuals with ME/CFS are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed;
Whereas ME/CFS is approximately 4 times more prevalent in women than in men;
Whereas ME/CFS is a chronic disease with no known cure and leaves \1/4\ of 
        individuals with ME/CFS housebound or bedbound for extended periods of 
        time;
Whereas 50 to 75 percent of individuals with ME/CFS cannot work or attend 
        school;
Whereas medical expenses and lost productivity related to ME/CFS cost the 
        economy of the United States an estimated $17,000,000,000 to 
        $24,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas the cause of ME/CFS is unknown, there is no diagnostic test for ME/CFS, 
        and there is no treatment for ME/CFS that is approved by the Food and 
        Drug Administration;
Whereas NAM has noted a ``paucity of research'' on ME/CFS and that ``more 
        research is essential'';
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called ME/CFS 
        ``America's Hidden Health Crisis'';
Whereas individuals with ME/CFS struggle to find doctors to care for them, and 
        ME/CFS is included in less than \1/3\ of medical school curricula;
Whereas, in recognition of the dearth of research on ME/CFS and the profound 
        impact that the disease has on individuals with ME/CFS and their loved 
        ones and caretakers, the National Institutes of Health (referred to in 
        this preamble as the ``NIH'') is ``committed to unraveling the 
        underlying biologic cause(s) of ME/CFS as swiftly as possible, and 
        promoting research that will inform the development of effective 
        strategies for treatment and prevention of this devastating condition'';
Whereas, in 2017, 11 Institutes at the NIH and the Office of the Director of the 
        NIH contributed more than $7,000,000 in grants to assist in establishing 
        Collaborative Research Centers and a Data Management Coordinating Center 
        to improve the coordination of ME/CFS research and help accelerate 
        understanding of ME/CFS; and
Whereas, in 2019, May 12 is recognized as International ME/CFS Awareness Day: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals of International Myalgic 
        Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day;
            (2) recognizes and affirms the commitment of the United 
        States to--
                    (A) supporting research and medical education for 
                Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; and
                    (B) promoting awareness among health professionals 
                and the public about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic 
                Fatigue Syndrome; and
            (3) recognizes the continued importance of--
                    (A) health care professionals and medical 
                researchers who care for individuals with Myalgic 
                Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; and
                    (B) those who work to discover the cause of, and 
                develop and improve diagnosis of, treatments for, and a 
                cure for, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue 
                Syndrome.
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