IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 262 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 15, 2010 Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Meeks of New York, and Mr. Rangel) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month in April 2010 and supporting efforts to devote new resources to research the causes of the disease, environmental and otherwise, along with treatments and workforce strategies to support individuals with sarcoidosis and their families.

Whereas sarcoidosis is a noncontiguous systemic disease of unknown origin and is commonly diagnosed with the detection of inflamed, microscopic growths called granulomas that grow and oftentimes affect the lungs, skin, eyes, and nervous system; Whereas sarcoidosis can affect any organ of the body and more than one organ at any given time; Whereas the inflammation of such vital organs may cause seizures, blindness, disfiguring lesions, and heart failure; Whereas many individuals stricken with sarcoidosis eventually develop a serious disabling or potentially fatal condition; Whereas sarcoidosis was once thought to be an uncommon condition, but is now known to affect tens of thousands of people throughout the United States; Whereas sarcoidosis afflicts African-Americans up to eight times more frequently than other races; Whereas as many people with sarcoidosis have no symptoms, it is difficult to measure how many people have the condition; Whereas sarcoidosis is a disease that affects Americans nationwide and people around the world, and yet its causes and potential treatments remain a mystery; Whereas skin-related symptoms of this chronic, multisystemic disease were first recognized more than 100 years ago, but the effects of the disease on other organs were not observed until the first quarter of this century; Whereas sarcoidosis was the chief diagnosis of the death of fluorescent lightbulb workers in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1940s; Whereas sarcoidosis was the first diagnosis for an overwhelming majority of rescue workers from September 11, 2001; Whereas sarcoidosis has been documented to be disproportionately found among factory workers and Navy deck grinders; Whereas today, researchers are still trying to learn more about the causes, cures, and overall nature of sarcoidosis; Whereas the American Lung Association, the National Sarcoidosis Society, and the National Sarcoidosis Foundation actively advocated for more research to better understand how environmental and occupational exposures may increase the risk of sarcoidosis; Whereas the National Sarcoidosis Society and the National Sarcoidosis Foundation strive to serve those afflicted by the disease by focusing efforts on public policy, research, funding, patient services, public awareness, education, and finding a cure; and Whereas April 2010 would be appropriate to designate as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month with worldwide events to increase public awareness of the need to support individuals with sarcoidosis, to raise awareness of the environmental and occupational issues associated with sarcoidosis, and to educate medical professionals who care for individuals with sarcoidosis: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month; (2)encourages the President to issue a proclamation in support of the goals and ideals of Sarcoidosis Awareness Month; and (3)recognizes that sarcoidosis has played a prominent yet hidden role in America’s workforce history, acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and organizations who observe National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month with appropriate activities and events to further promote awareness of the disease, and supports research efforts to better understand the links between sarcoidosis and specific occupations where sarcoidosis is disproportionately represented.