[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 742 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 742

 Supporting the designation of October 23, 2021, as ``AADC Deficiency 
                            Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 22, 2021

Mr. Murphy of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Lynch) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the designation of October 23, 2021, as ``AADC Deficiency 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas a rare disease is a disease or disorder that affects a small number of 
        patients, currently defined as a condition that affects fewer than 
        200,000 people in the United States at any given time;
Whereas there are more than 7,000 rare diseases that altogether affect an 
        estimated 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 Americans;
Whereas children make up more than half of the estimated 25,000,000 to 
        30,000,000 Americans living with a rare disease;
Whereas Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency is a genetic 
        neurologic rare disease that severely debilitates a patient's 
        development, motor skills, growth, and cognitive and language skills and 
        limits a patient's life;
Whereas AADC Deficiency results from an inherited genetic disease where patients 
        lack the AADC enzyme required to create dopamine and, without dopamine, 
        patients will never achieve motor milestones, such as holding their 
        heads up, sitting, and standing, or develop the ability to communicate 
        or perform basic life functions;
Whereas patients are diagnosed with AADC Deficiency through genetic and other 
        biochemical tests;
Whereas patients suffering from AADC Deficiency often have unexplained low 
        muscle tone and experience other symptoms like developmental delays and 
        involuntary eye movements;
Whereas AADC Deficiency affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people in the United 
        States;
Whereas AADC Deficiency is often mistaken for other diseases like cerebral 
        palsy, epilepsy, or even autism;
Whereas Congress can raise awareness of AADC Deficiency in the public and 
        medical community in the United States;
Whereas awareness of AADC Deficiency will help patients who may be experiencing 
        the symptoms of AADC Deficiency recognize such disease and pursue 
        appropriate treatment; and
Whereas improved awareness and education around AADC Deficiency will increase 
        medical representation for individuals suffering from AADC Deficiency: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``AADC Deficiency Awareness 
        Day''; and
            (2) recognizes the importance of, with respect to Aromatic 
        L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency, improving 
        awareness and education around AADC Deficiency.
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