[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 246 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 246

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Celiac Awareness Month, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2011

Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McGovern, Mr. 
   Frank of Massachusetts, and Mrs. Maloney) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Celiac Awareness Month, and 
                          for other purposes.

Whereas celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune disease, affects 3,000,000 people 
        in the United States;
Whereas 200,000 people have been diagnosed with celiac disease;
Whereas 95 percent of people in the United States with celiac disease remain 
        undiagnosed;
Whereas the length of time for an adult to be diagnosed with celiac disease is 6 
        years from the onset of symptoms;
Whereas delays in diagnosis of celiac disease are costing the health care system 
        millions of dollars;
Whereas failure to diagnose celiac disease can lead to the onset of other 
        autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and 
        Sjogren's syndrome;
Whereas 12 percent of persons with type 1 diabetes have celiac disease;
Whereas individuals with Down Syndrome are at increased risk of having celiac 
        disease;
Whereas celiac disease is a serious chronic condition that affects men, women, 
        and children;
Whereas 30 percent of new diagnosed celiacs are over the age of 60;
Whereas 50 percent of men diagnosed with celiac disease will have iron 
        deficiency anemia;
Whereas gluten sensitivity, a condition on the celiac spectrum, affects 
        approximately 18,000,000 people in the United States;
Whereas 10 percent of people with celiac disease suffer from an associated 
        neurological condition such as peripheral neuropathy and ataxia;
Whereas the only known treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a 
        gluten-free diet;
Whereas the United States has no regulatory standard for the term ``gluten-
        free'' and no regulations governing the labeling of products as 
        ``gluten-free'';
Whereas the lack of a standard for gluten-free foods and labeling of products 
        poses ongoing health risks to persons with celiac disease;
Whereas the 2004 NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease found 
        that consultation with a skilled dietitian and identification and 
        treatment of nutritional deficiencies were key elements in the 
        management of celiac disease;
Whereas the consensus panel further recommended the standardization of serologic 
        tests and pathologic criteria for the diagnosis of celiac disease, the 
        adoption of a standard definition of a gluten-free diet based on 
        objective evidence such as that being developed by the American Dietetic 
        Association, and the development of an adequate testing procedure to 
        determine the amount of gluten in foods and of a definition of standards 
        for gluten-free foods in the United States to lay the foundation for 
        rational food labeling; and
Whereas National Celiac Disease Awareness Month is celebrated in May: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Celiac 
        Awareness Month;
            (2) recognizes that awareness of celiac disease will have a 
        significant positive impact on the quality of life of people 
        with celiac disease;
            (3) recognizes the importance of improving diagnosis rates, 
        through increasing education about celiac disease; and
            (4) supports working toward an eventual cure for celiac 
        disease through increased research and treatment.
                                 <all>