[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 291 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 291

   Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the disease 
                             endometriosis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 18, 2001

  Mr. McKeon submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the disease 
                             endometriosis.

Whereas endometriosis is a painful, chronic gynecologic disease;
Whereas, with such disease, tissue that is similar to the endometrium (the 
        tissue lining the inside of the uterus) grows outside the uterus in the 
        abdominal cavity and results in internal bleeding, inflammation, and the 
        development of scar tissue because the tissue has no means of leaving 
        the body (unlike the monthly development and shedding of the endometrium 
        through the menstruation process);
Whereas an estimated 10 to 20 percent of American women of childbearing age have 
        endometriosis;
Whereas endometriosis is a poorly understood disease and can strike women of any 
        socioeconomic class, age, or race;
Whereas the disease can affect a woman's ability to work, ability to reproduce, 
        and relationships with her mate, children, and everyone around her;
Whereas infertility occurs in about 30 to 40 percent of women with 
        endometriosis;
Whereas the cause of endometriosis is unknown;
Whereas the disease can only be definitively diagnosed through gynecologic 
        surgery;
Whereas studies have shown that the average delay in actual diagnosis is more 
        than nine years; and
Whereas there is no definitive cure for endometriosis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) strongly supports efforts to raise public awareness of 
        endometriosis throughout the medical and lay communities; and
            (2) recognizes the need for better support of patients with 
        endometriosis, the need for physicians to better understand the 
        disease, the need for more effective treatments, and 
        ultimately, the need for a cure.
                                 <all>