[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 129 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 129

  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of the 
month of November each year as ``Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2002

  Mr. Crapo submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of the 
month of November each year as ``Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (referred to in this concurrent 
        resolution as ``COPD'') is primarily associated with emphysema and 
        chronic bronchitis, conditions with which 3,000,000 and 9,000,000 people 
        in the United States, respectively, have been diagnosed;
Whereas COPD is progressive and irreversible;
Whereas as COPD progresses, the airways and alveoli in the lungs lose elasticity 
        and the airway walls collapse, closing off smaller airways and narrowing 
        larger ones;
Whereas symptoms of COPD include chronic coughing, chest tightness, shortness of 
        breath, increased effort to breathe, increased mucus production, and 
        frequent clearing of the throat;
Whereas risk factors for COPD include long-term smoking, a family history of 
        COPD, exposure to air pollution or second-hand smoke, and a history of 
        childhood respiratory infections;
Whereas more than half of all people who suffer from COPD report that their 
        condition limits their ability to work, sleep, and participate in social 
        and physical activities;
Whereas more than half of all people who suffer from COPD feel they are not in 
        control of their breathing, panic when they cannot catch their breath, 
        and expect their condition to worsen;
Whereas 16,000,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with some 
        form of COPD and an estimated 16,000,000 people in the United States 
        with COPD are undiagnosed;
Whereas nearly 107,000 people died in the United States of COPD in 1998, making 
        COPD the fourth leading cause of death in the United States;
Whereas COPD accounted for 13,400,000 office visits to doctors in 1997 and 
        668,362 hospitalizations in 1998;
Whereas COPD costs the economy of the United States an estimated $30,400,000,000 
        a year;
Whereas in 1997, 24 States experienced death rates from COPD which were between 
        41 and 61 deaths per 100,000 people; and
Whereas too many people with COPD are not diagnosed or are not receiving 
        adequate treatment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) November of each year should be established as 
        ``Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month'' to 
        raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic 
        obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems 
        associated with the disease; and
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
        the people of the United States to observe the month with 
        appropriate programs and activities.
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