[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 147 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 147

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding people in the United States 
                        with bleeding disorders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2009

  Mrs. McCarthy of New York (for herself, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. 
 Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Baldwin, and 
Ms. Bordallo) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding people in the United States 
                        with bleeding disorders.

Whereas the lives of millions of people in the United States are impacted by 
        both congenital and inherited bleeding disorders as patients, 
        asymptomatic carriers, and caregivers;
Whereas studies estimate that as many as 1 in 50 people in the United States 
        suffer from von Willebrand's disease, making it the most common 
        inherited bleeding disorder in the United States;
Whereas von Willebrand's disease is characterized by frequent nosebleeds, 
        recurrent bleeding from the mouth and gums often resulting in 
        periodontal disease, swollen and painful joints, gastrointestinal 
        bleeding, excessive bruising, postoperative bleeding, prolonged bleeding 
        following minor injury, and menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding);
Whereas studies estimate that 13 to 20 percent of women in the United States 
        diagnosed with menorrhagia suffer from von Willebrand's disease;
Whereas an accurate diagnosis of von Willebrand's disease is sometimes difficult 
        to obtain given current standard laboratory testing techniques, and, as 
        a result, the majority of people in the United States who suffer from 
        von Willebrand's disease remain undiagnosed;
Whereas failure to correctly diagnose von Willebrand's disease in women may lead 
        to unnecessary hysterectomies resulting in increased risk from bleeding 
        at the time of surgery;
Whereas effective medical treatments are available for von Willebrand's disease 
        when it is diagnosed properly;
Whereas the onset of von Willebrand's disease symptoms usually occurs during 
        adolescence and the symptoms can remain undiagnosed for several years;
Whereas programs designed to increase screening for von Willebrand's disease in 
        adolescents could greatly improve diagnosis;
Whereas the Current Population Study estimates that 67 percent of high school 
        graduates enroll in institutions of higher education;
Whereas prior to entering institutions of higher education, students have to 
        receive a physical examination and meet immunization requirements; and
Whereas including a verbal screening tool for von Willebrand's disease as part 
        of the medical requirement for entrance into institutions of higher 
        education would increase early diagnosis, improve treatment, and lead to 
        better health outcomes: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Federal Government has a responsibility to--
                    (A) further the research that is needed to identify 
                a more accurate laboratory test for von Willebrand's 
                disease;
                    (B) increase funding for biomedical and 
                psychosocial research on von Willebrand's disease, rare 
                blood disorders, and hemophilia;
                    (C) continue to improve access to treatment centers 
                for all individuals with bleeding disorders;
                    (D) improve public education and awareness of 
                bleeding disorders; and
                    (E) support screening for von Willebrand's Disease 
                as an aspect of the health requirements of all 
                institutions of higher education;
            (2) the Director of the National Institutes of Health 
        should take a leadership role in the fight against bleeding 
        disorders by acting through appropriate offices within the 
        National Institutes of Health to provide Congress with a 5-year 
        research plan for people with bleeding disorders;
            (3) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention should continue the critical role of the Centers in 
        improving outreach about, treatment for, and prevention of the 
        complications of people with bleeding disorders by facilitating 
        an educational relationship between treatment centers, 
        university health clinics, and undergraduate student 
        populations;
            (4) referral of a person with a bleeding disorder to a 
        federally sponsored hemophilia treatment center is critical to 
        comprehensive treatment of people with bleeding disorders;
            (5) physicians should screen all women presenting with 
        menorrhagia, especially severe menorrhagia, for von 
        Willebrand's disease;
            (6) patient advocate organizations and medical specialty 
        societies should continue to collaborate on public education 
        campaigns to educate people about bleeding disorders; and
            (7) physicians should screen all adolescents attending 
        institutions of higher education for von Willebrand's disease.
                                 <all>