[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 43 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 43

 Designating the week beginning June 6, 1993, and June 5, 1994, ``Lyme 
                       Disease Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             February 4 (legislative day, January 5), 1993

 Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. D'Amato, and 
Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the week beginning June 6, 1993, and June 5, 1994, ``Lyme 
                       Disease Awareness Week''.

Whereas Lyme disease (borreliosis) is spread primarily by the bite of four types 
        of ticks infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi;
Whereas Lyme disease-carrying ticks can be found across the country--in woods, 
        mountains, beaches, even in our yards, and no effective tick control 
        measures currently exist;
Whereas infected ticks can be carried by animals such as cats, dogs, horses, 
        cows, goats, birds, and transferred to humans;
Whereas our pets and livestock can be infected with Lyme disease by ticks;
Whereas Lyme disease was first discovered in Europe in 1883 and scientists have 
        recently proven its presence on Long Island as early as the 1940's;
Whereas Lyme disease was first found in Wisconsin in 1969, and derives its name 
        from the diagnosis of a cluster of cases in the mid-1970's in Lyme, 
        Connecticut;
Whereas forty-nine states reported more than forty thousand cases of Lyme 
        disease from 1982 through 1991;
Whereas Lyme disease knows no season--the peak west coast and southern season is 
        November to June, the peak east coast and northern season is April to 
        October, and victims suffer all year round;
Whereas Lyme disease, easily treated soon after the bite with oral antibiotics, 
        can be difficult to treat (by painful intravenous injections) if not 
        discovered in time, and for some may be incurable;
Whereas Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because there is no reliable test 
        that can directly detect when the infection is present;
Whereas the early symptoms of Lyme disease may include rashes, severe headaches, 
        fever, fatigue, and swollen glands;
Whereas if left untreated Lyme disease can affect every body system causing 
        severe damage to the heart, brain, eyes, joints, lungs, liver, spleen, 
        blood vessels, and kidneys;
Whereas the bacteria can cross the placenta and affect fetal development;
Whereas our children are the most vulnerable and most widely affected group;
Whereas the best cure for Lyme disease is prevention;
Whereas prevention of Lyme disease depends upon public awareness; and
Whereas education is essential to making the general public, health care 
        professionals, employers, and insurers more knowledgeable about Lyme 
        disease and its debilitating side effects: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning June 
6, 1993, and June 5, 1994, is designated as ``Lyme Disease Awareness 
Week'', and the President is authorized and requested to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
such week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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