[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 237 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 237

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to 
                             fibromyalgia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 1999

  Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma submitted the following resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to 
                             fibromyalgia.

Whereas fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread 
        musculoskeletal pain and tenderness in localized areas of the neck, 
        spine, shoulders, and hips called ``tender points,'' as well as by 
        fatigue, restless sleep, and discomfort in other organ areas, such as 
        the intestine and the temporomandibular joint;
Whereas, according to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia affects 
        approximately 3.7 million people in the United States;
Whereas a disproportionate number of those affected by fibromyalgia are women;
Whereas the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but fibromyalgia may be 
        triggered by stress, trauma, or possibly an infectious agent in 
        susceptible people; and
Whereas there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, but a combination of exercise, 
        medication, physical therapy, and relaxation can help relieve the 
        symptoms of fibromyalgia: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the severity of the issue of fibromyalgia;
            (2) calls on the United States as a whole to support 
        individuals affected by fibromyalgia through public awareness 
        and education;
            (3) recognizes the leadership of the Arthritis Foundation, 
        the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the States 
        in developing the National Arthritis Action Plan which includes 
        strategies to address all forms of arthritis, including 
        fibromyalgia;
            (4) recognizes the importance of committing resources to 
        the National Arthritis Action Plan which the Arthritis 
        Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 
        the States have just begun to implement;
            (5) recognizes the importance of scientific research in 
        determining the cause (or causes) of and effective treatments 
        for fibromyalgia; and
            (6) recognizes the importance of committing resources to 
        the Arthritis Foundation, the National Institute of Arthritis 
        and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and other relevant 
        Federal research institutions to help pinpoint the cause (or 
        causes) of fibromyalgia, and eventually to find a cure for 
        fibromyalgia.
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