[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 692 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 692

     Supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 2009

 Mr. Arcuri (for himself, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. 
 Lowey, and Mr. Cardoza) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month.

Whereas Tay-Sachs disease is a rare, genetic disorder that causes destruction of 
        nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord due to the poor functioning of 
        an enzyme called beta-hexosaminidase A;
Whereas there is no proven treatment or cure for Tay-Sachs disease, which is 
        always fatal in children;
Whereas the disorder was named after Warren Tay, an ophthalmologist from the 
        United Kingdom, and Bernard Sachs, a neurologist from the United States, 
        both of whom contributed to the discovery of the disease in 1881 and 
        1887, respectively;
Whereas Tay-Sachs disease often affects families with no prior history of the 
        disease;
Whereas approximately 1 in 27 Ashkenazi Jews, 1 in 30 Louisianan Cajuns, 1 in 30 
        French Canadians, 1 in 50 Irish Americans, and 1 in every 250 people are 
        carriers of Tay-Sachs disease;
Whereas approximately 1,200,000 Americans are carriers of Tay-Sachs disease;
Whereas these unaffected carriers of the disease possess the recessive gene that 
        can trigger the disease in future generations;
Whereas if both parents of a child are carriers of Tay-Sachs disease, there is a 
        1 in 4 chance that the child will develop Tay-Sachs disease;
Whereas a simple and inexpensive blood test can determine if an individual is a 
        carrier of Tay-Sachs disease, and all people in the United States, 
        especially those citizens who are members of high-risk populations, 
        should be screened; and
Whereas heightened awareness and increased research are the best ways to 
        eradicate this horrific disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and 
ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month and encourages and supports 
education and research efforts with respect to Tay-Sachs disease.
                                 <all>