[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 172 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 172

    Designating the first Wednesday in September 2013 as ``National 
  Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day'' and raising awareness and 
              understanding of polycystic kidney disease.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 17, 2013

Mr. Blunt submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

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                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating the first Wednesday in September 2013 as ``National 
  Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day'' and raising awareness and 
              understanding of polycystic kidney disease.

Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day will raise public 
        awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease, one of the 
        most prevalent, life-threatening genetic kidney diseases;
Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day will also foster 
        understanding of the impact polycystic kidney disease has on patients 
        and their families;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a progressive, genetic disorder of the 
        kidneys that causes damage to the kidneys and the cardiovascular, 
        endocrine, hepatic, and gastrointestinal organ systems;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease has a devastating impact on the health and 
        finances of people of all ages, and equally affects people of all races, 
        genders, nationalities, geographic locations, and income levels;
Whereas, of the people diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, approximately 
        10 percent have no family history of the disease, with the disease 
        developing as a spontaneous (or new) mutation;
Whereas there is no treatment or cure for polycystic kidney disease, which is 
        one of the 4 leading causes of kidney failure in the United States;
Whereas the vast majority of patients with polycystic kidney disease reach 
        kidney failure at an average age of 53, causing a severe strain on 
        dialysis and kidney transplantation resources and on the delivery of 
        health care in the United States as the largest segment of the 
        population of the United States, the ``baby boomers'', continues to age;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease instills in patients fear of an unknown future 
        with a life-threatening genetic disease and apprehension over possible 
        discrimination, including the risk of losing their health and life 
        insurance, their jobs, and their chances for promotion;
Whereas countless friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers must shoulder the 
        physical, emotional, and financial burdens that polycystic kidney 
        disease causes;
Whereas the severity of the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease and the 
        limited public awareness of the disease cause many patients to live in 
        denial and forego regular visits to their physicians or avoid following 
        good health management, which would help avoid more severe complications 
        when kidney failure occurs;
Whereas people who have chronic, life-threatening diseases like polycystic 
        kidney disease have a predisposition to depression and its resultant 
        consequences of 7 times the national average because of their anxiety 
        over pain, suffering, and premature death; and
Whereas the PKD Foundation and its more than 60 volunteer chapters around the 
        United States are dedicated to conducting research to find treatments 
        and a cure for polycystic kidney disease, fostering public awareness and 
        understanding of the disease, educating patients and their families 
        about the disease to improve their treatment and care, and providing 
        support and encouraging people to become organ donors, including by 
        sponsoring the annual ``Walk for PKD'' to raise funds for polycystic 
        kidney disease research, education, advocacy, and awareness: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the first Wednesday in September 2013 as 
        ``National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Polycystic 
        Kidney Disease Awareness Day to raise public awareness and 
        understanding of polycystic kidney disease;
            (3) recognizes the need for additional research to find a 
        cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
            (4) encourages all people in the United States and 
        interested groups to support National Polycystic Kidney 
        Awareness Day through appropriate ceremonies and activities to 
        promote public awareness of polycystic kidney disease and to 
        foster understanding of the impact of the disease on patients 
        and their families.
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