[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 57 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 57

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
     should be issued to promote public awareness of Down syndrome.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 23, 2009

Mr. Sessions (for himself, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Kennedy, and Ms. 
   Norton) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
     should be issued to promote public awareness of Down syndrome.

Whereas Down syndrome occurs when an individual has 3 rather than 2 copies of 
        the 21st chromosome, and this additional genetic material alters the 
        course of development and causes the characteristics associated with 
        Down syndrome;
Whereas there are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the 
        United States;
Whereas the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with 
        the age of the mother, but due to higher fertility rates in younger 
        women, 80 percent of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 
        35 years of age;
Whereas people with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical 
        conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing 
        problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid 
        conditions, and because many of these conditions are now treatable, most 
        people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives;
Whereas a few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle 
        tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep 
        crease across the center of the palm, yet every person with Down 
        syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to 
        different degrees or not at all; and
Whereas life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically 
        in recent decades, from 25 in 1983 to 60 today, and people with Down 
        syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, 
        and contribute to society in many wonderful ways: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a 
        commemorative postage stamp to promote public awareness of Down 
        syndrome; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United 
        States Postal Service should recommend to the Postmaster 
        General that such a stamp be issued.
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