Designating May 1990 as "National Digestive Disease Awareness Month".
PL 101-294 (H.J.Res.453), enacted 05/17/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-294—MAY 17, 1990 
104 STAT. 193 
Public Law 101-294 
101st Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Designating May 1990 as "National Digestive Disease Awareness Month". 
May 17, 1990 
[H.J. Res. 453] 
Whereas digestive diseases rank third among illnesses in total 
economic cost in the United States; 
Whereas digestive diseases represent one of the Nation's most seri-
ous health problems in terms of discomfort and pain, personal 
expenditures for treatment, working hours lost, and mortality; 
Whereas twenty million Americans suffer from chronic digestive 
diseases; 
Whereas more than fourteen million cases of acute digestive dis-
eases are treated in this country each year, including one-third of 
all malignancies and some of the most common acute infections; 
Whereas more Americans are hospitalized with digestive diseases 
than any other type of disease; 
Whereas digestive diseases necessitate 25 per centum of all surgical 
operations; 
Whereas digestive diseases are one of the most prevalent causes of 
disability in the work force; 
Whereas, in the United States, digestive diseases cause yearly 
expenditures of over $17,000,000,000 in direct health care costs 
and a total annual economic burden of nearly $50,000,000,000; 
Whereas more than one hundred different digestive diseases, and 
other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, each cause more than 
two hundred thousand deaths each year; 
Whereas there has been interest on the part of the research commu-
nity in the causes, cures, prevention, and clinical treatment of 
digestive diseases and related nutritional problems; 
Whereas the people of the United States should recognize preven-
tion and treatment of digestive diseases as a major health priority; 
Whereas national organizations, such as the Digestive Disease Na-
tional Coalition, are committed to increasing awareness and 
understanding of digestive disesises in the health care community 
and among members of the general public; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health, through the National 
Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse and the National 
Digestive Diseases Advisory Board, is committed to encouraging 
and coordinating such educational efforts; 
Whereas the National Digestive Disease Education Program is a 
coordinated effort to educate the public and the health care 
community on the seriousness of digestive diseeises and to provide 
information relative to the treatment, prevention, and control of 
digestive diseases; and 
Whereas May 1990 marks the eighth anniversary of the National 
Digestive Disease Education Program: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That May 1990 is des-
ignated as "National Digestive Disease Awareness Month", and the 
President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation call-
104 STAT. 194 
PUBLIC LAW 101-294—MAY 17, 1990 
ing upon all government agencies and the people of the United 
States to observe such month with appropriate programs, cere-
monies, and activities. 
Approved May 17, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 453 (S.J. Res. 254): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
May 8, considered and passed House. 
May 9, considered and passed Senate.