[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 44 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 44

  Designating the week beginning April 18, 1993, as ``Primary Immune 
                      Deficiency Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             February 4 (legislative day, January 5), 1993

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the week beginning April 18, 1993, as ``Primary Immune 
                      Deficiency Awareness Week''.

Whereas primary immune deficiency is a congenital defect in the immune system 
        such that the body cannot adequately defend itself from infection;
Whereas primary immune deficiency is most often diagnosed in children and 
        affects more children than leukemia and lymphoma combined;
Whereas primary immune deficiency is believed to effect five hundred thousand 
        Americans and possibly more because people are undiagnosed and 
        misdiagnosed;
Whereas many forms of primary immune deficiency are inherited;
Whereas there are currently considered to be seventy forms of primary immune 
        deficiency ranging from SCVID which is fatal if left untreated to 
        chronic recurring infections and allergies that cannot be managed with 
        prophylactic antibiotics;
Whereas the earliest symptoms of primary immune deficiency are easily confused 
        with a number of common illnesses or infections so that physicians often 
        fail to diagnose and treat the underlying problem:
Whereas once suspected, primary immune deficiency can be diagnosed through a 
        series of blood screenings which test immune function;
Whereas early intervention and treatment can save lives as well as prevent 
        permanent damage to lungs and other organs;
Whereas many forms of treatment are available once a specific diagnosis is made, 
        procedures such as BMT may result in complete cure, and other treatments 
        like monthly infusions of gamma globulin dramatically reduces a 
        patient's risk of infections and enables him or her to lead a normal 
        life;
Whereas patients may have long periods of normal health then suddenly be struck 
        by severe fevers and infections;
Whereas lack of public awareness can lead to anxiety and leave families isolated 
        and confused;
Whereas education is essential to make the general public, health care 
        professionals, employers, and insurers more knowledgeable about primary 
        immune deficiency: 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 April 
18, 1993 is designated as ``Primary Immune Deficiency Awareness Week,'' 
and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a week 
with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

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