[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 178 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 178

 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, 
and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the 
 goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
                     Week, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 14, 2005

   Mr. Norwood (for himself, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. 
 Kingston, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Hall, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. 
  Upton, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Linder, and Mr. Pickering) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, 
and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the 
 goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
                     Week, and for other purposes.

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disorder causing 
        progressive, incurable lung scarring;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is one of about 200 disorders called 
        interstitial lung diseases;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form of interstitial 
        lung disease;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and generally fatal 
        disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs, causing an 
        irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, often causing 
        disability or death within a few short years;
Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;
Whereas approximately 83,000 United States citizens have idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis, and 31,000 new cases are diagnosed each year;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed;
Whereas the median survival rate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is 2 
        to 3 years, and about two thirds of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 
        patients die within 5 years; and
Whereas a need has been identified to increase awareness and detection of this 
        misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed disorder: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes, 
        a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis;
            (2) supports the work of the Coalition for Pulmonary 
        Fibrosis and its partner organizations for their great efforts 
        to educate, support, and provide hope for individuals who 
        suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including the work 
        of the Coalition to organize a national ``Idiopathic Pulmonary 
        Fibrosis Awareness Week'';
            (3) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
        ``Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week'';
            (4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        designating a national ``Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
        Awareness Week'';
            (5) congratulates the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis for 
        its efforts to educate the public about idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis, while funding research to help find a cure for this 
        disorder; and
            (6) supports the goals and ideals of a national 
        ``Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week''.
                                 <all>