A resolution recognizing and supporting individuals born with congenital disabilities or malformations due to thalidomide exposure.

Bill: 118-sres-714
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2024-05-23
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S3893-3894)

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses support for individuals who are born with congenital disabilities or malformations due to thalidomide exposure.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 714 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 23, 2024 Mr. Kennedy submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing and supporting individuals born with congenital disabilities or malformations due to thalidomide exposure.

Whereas July 14th, 2024, is National Thalidomide Survivor Awareness Day ; Whereas thalidomide is a sedative drug that was widely used in the late 1950s to treat nausea in pregnant women; Whereas thalidomide treatment resulted in irreversible side effects among babies, including stillbirths and congenital disabilities or malformations; Whereas such congenital disabilities or malformations include the shortening or absence of limbs, the malformation of hands and feet, sensory impairment, facial disfigurement, and damage to the brain, internal organs, and skeletal structure, among other disabilities; Whereas an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 children worldwide died at birth or were born with congenital disabilities or malformations attributable to thalidomide exposure; Whereas it is estimated that there are at least 20 survivors of thalidomide exposure in the State of Louisiana alone; Whereas thalidomide survivors face unique hardships requiring many to rely on adapted vehicles, electronic wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs; Whereas the reliance on adaptive technologies imposes great financial burden on thalidomide survivors; Whereas thalidomide survivors are often unable to maintain full-time employment due to their impairments; Whereas the experience of thalidomide victims has greatly influenced the passage of modern drug safety laws; and Whereas thalidomide survivors have not received recognition or support from the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) recognizes and supports individuals born with congenital disabilities or malformations due to thalidomide exposure; and (2) urges the recognition of such exposure in United States history and the long-term hardships affecting survivors of thalidomide exposure to this day.