IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 243 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 12, 2009 Mr. Kanjorski submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Recognizing and promoting awareness of Chiari malformation.

Whereas Chiari malformation, as recognized by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, includes a complex group of disorders characterized by herniation of the cerebellum; Whereas the herniated tissue blocks the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain which can lead to the formation of a cavity within the spinal cord; Whereas symptoms of Type I Chiari malformation include severe headache, dizziness, vertigo, disequilibrium, visual disturbances, difficulty swallowing, heart palpitations, sleep apnea, impaired fine motor skills, chronic fatigue, and painful tingling of the hands and feet; Whereas because of the complex symptomology, patients with Type I Chiari malformation are frequently misdiagnosed; Whereas Type II Chiari malformation, also called Arnold-Chiari malformation, is usually accompanied by a myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida that occurs when the spinal canal and the backbone do not close before birth, causing the spinal cord to protrude through an opening in the back, which can result in partial or complete paralysis below the spinal opening; Whereas Type III Chiari malformation, the most serious form, results in severe and often irreversible neurological defects; Whereas treatment for this disorder is not a certain and definitive path, and medication may ease certain symptoms such as pain, but often surgery is the only treatment available to correct functional disturbances or halt the progression of damage to the central nervous system; Whereas until recently, Chiari malformation was regarded as a rare condition, but with the increased use of magnetic resonance imaging, the number of reported cases has risen from 200,000 to 2,000,000 Americans; Whereas new genetic studies support a hereditary tendency with a transmissibility rate of 12 percent; and Whereas the studies also found that women are three times more likely to be afflicted by the debilitating disorder than men: Now, therefore, be it

That the United States House of Representatives recognizes the importance of making citizens of the United States aware of Chiari malformation and helps promote advocacy for this important cause.