IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1454 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 17, 2010 Mrs. Halvorson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of Chiari Malformation Awareness Month and Chiari Malformation Awareness Day in the United States.

Whereas Chiari Malformations are associated with structural defects of the skull base which can lead to compression on the lower parts of the brain and are estimated to affect 2,000,000 people in the United States; Whereas these changes lead to a downward protrusion of the lower part of the brain into the spinal canal thereby interrupting the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) and the motion of the spinal cord, which can cause numerous symptoms; Whereas this condition can cause a range of symptoms including headache, numbness, dizziness, muscle weakness, vision problems, and potential problems with balance and coordination; Whereas Chiari Malformations are developed during fetal development, and, to date, there is no preventative treatment available; Whereas the most common treatment, once diagnosed, is an invasive surgical treatment called decompression, where the top bone or top several bones are removed in the neck and where the spinal fluid drains are widened to alleviate the pressure on the spinal cord, performed in order to correct symptoms or to help stop the progression of damage to the central nervous system; Whereas difficulty remains in determining the commonalities of Chiari Malformations, due to the fact that some people remain asymptomatic in adolescence, into adulthood, and can remain so their entire lives; Whereas the long-term side effects to leaving Chiari Malformations untreated are unknown, some patients that have been diagnosed for many years prior to treatment can sometimes experience permanent nerve damage, or in rare cases, may succumb to paralysis; Whereas Chiari Malformations have previously been believed to occur in about 1 in every 1,000 births, and continues to improve through continued research, frequency of detection, and diagnosis; Whereas further research and awareness is greatly needed to properly and appropriately combat this condition; Whereas a turquoise ribbon with a zipper is generally regarded as the symbol for Chiari Malformation Awareness, particularly by the Chiari Malformation advocacy organization, The Chiari Center Foundation; and Whereas Chiari Malformation Awareness Month is celebrated in the month of September and Chiari Malformation Awareness Day is celebrated the first Saturday in September in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals of Chiari Malformation Awareness Month and Chiari Malformation Awareness Day in the United States.