III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 236 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 13, 2005 Mr. Coleman (for himself, Mr. Luger, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Burr, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Hutchison, and Mr. Graham) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions May 25, 2006 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 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 under diagnosed; 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 under diagnosed disorder: Now, therefore, be it

That 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)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 (5)supports the goals and ideals of a national Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.