III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 563 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 8, 2006 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating September 13, 2006, as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day.

Whereas celiac disease affects 2,200,000 people in the United States, including 1 in 133 healthy people; Whereas celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley, as well as some medicines and vitamins; Whereas exposure to gluten damages the villi of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients in food; Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder and a malabsorption disease; Whereas celiac disease is a genetic disease, with 1 in 22 people having a first-degree relative with celiac disease; Whereas the average length of time it takes for a symptomatic person to be diagnosed with celiac disease is 11 years; Whereas celiac disease is often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed due to the fact that symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and many doctors are not very knowledgeable about the disease; Whereas, according to a study, 60 percent of children and 41 percent of adults diagnosed with celiac disease were asymptomatic; Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed through tests measuring the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies; Whereas celiac disease is treated by following a gluten-free diet; Whereas damage to the small intestine leads to an increased risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma and adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage and congenital malformation, and short stature; Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome; Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who was born on September 13, 1839; and Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness in the general public and the medical community of celiac disease: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates September 13, 2006, as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day; (2)recognizes that all people of the United States should become more informed and aware of celiac disease; (3)calls upon the people of the United States to observe the date with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and (4)respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Celiac Sprue Association, the American Celiac Society, the Celiac Disease Foundation, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, and the Oklahoma Celiac Support Group.