[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 592 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 592

 Designating the week of September 13-19, 2010, as ``Polycystic Kidney 
   Disease Awareness Week'', and supporting the goals and ideals of 
    Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week to raise awareness and 
 understanding of polycystic kidney disease and the impact the disease 
 has on patients now and for future generations until it can be cured.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2010

     Mr. Kohl (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the week of September 13-19, 2010, as ``Polycystic Kidney 
   Disease Awareness Week'', and supporting the goals and ideals of 
    Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week to raise awareness and 
 understanding of polycystic kidney disease and the impact the disease 
 has on patients now and for future generations until it can be cured.

Whereas polycystic kidney disease (known as ``PKD'') is one of the most 
        prevalent life-threatening genetic diseases in the world, affecting an 
        estimated 600,000 people in the United States, including newborn babies, 
        children, and adults, regardless of sex, age, race, geography, income, 
        or ethnicity;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease comes in 2 forms, autosomal dominant, which 
        affects 1 in 500 people worldwide, and autosomal recessive, a rare form 
        that affects 1 in 20,000 live births and frequently leads to early 
        death;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cysts to form on both kidneys, 
        leading to an increase in kidney size and weight;
Whereas the cysts caused by polycystic kidney disease can be as small as the 
        head of a pin or as large as a grapefruit;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disease that damages the kidneys 
        and the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gastrointestinal 
        systems;
Whereas patients with polycystic kidney disease often experience no symptoms 
        during the early stages of the disease, and many patients do not realize 
        they have PKD until the disease affects other organs;
Whereas the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease can include high blood 
        pressure, chronic pain in the back, sides or abdomen, blood in the 
        urine, urinary tract infections, heart disease, and kidney stones;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is the leading genetic cause of kidney failure 
        in the United States;
Whereas more than half of patients suffering from polycystic kidney disease will 
        reach kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant to 
        survive, thus placing an extra strain on dialysis and kidney 
        transplantation resources;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease has no treatment or cure;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease instills in patients the fear of an unknown 
        future with a life-threatening genetic disease, and of possible genetic 
        discrimination;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is an example of how collaboration, 
        technological innovation, scientific momentum, and public-private 
        partnerships can--

    (1) generate therapeutic interventions that directly benefit the people 
suffering from polycystic kidney disease;

    (2) save billions of Federal dollars paid by Medicare, Medicaid, and 
other programs for dialysis, kidney transplants, immunosuppressant drugs, 
and related therapies; and

    (3) open several thousand spots on the kidney transplant waiting list;

Whereas improvements in diagnostic technology and the expansion of scientific 
        knowledge about polycystic kidney disease have led to--

    (1) the discovery of the 3 primary genes that cause polycystic kidney 
disease and the 3 primary protein products of the genes; and

    (2) the understanding of cell structures and signaling pathways that 
cause cyst growth, which has produced multiple polycystic kidney disease 
clinical drug trials; and

Whereas thousands of volunteers throughout the United States are dedicated to 
        expanding essential research, fostering public awareness and 
        understanding, educating patients and their families about polycystic 
        kidney disease to improve treatment and care, providing appropriate 
        moral support, and encouraging people to become organ donors: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of September 13-19, 2010, as 
        ``Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of a national week to 
        raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney 
        disease;
            (3) recognizes the need for additional research into a 
        treatment and a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to--
                    (A) support Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness 
                Week through appropriate ceremonies and activities;
                    (B) promote public awareness of polycystic kidney 
                disease; and
                    (C) foster understanding of the impact of the 
                disease on patients and their families.
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