[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 178 Referred in Senate (RFS)]


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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 30, 2005

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         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 advocates and organizations in 
        educating, supporting, and providing hope for individuals who 
        suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including efforts to 
        organize a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
        Week;
            (3) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
        National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;
            (4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        designating a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
        Week;
            (5) congratulates advocates and organizations for their 
        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 National Idiopathic 
        Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 29, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.

                            By Gerasimos C. Vans,

                                                          Deputy Clerk.