[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1124 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1124

  Expressing support for the designation of the last Tuesday of April 
  each year as ``APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2024

  Ms. Plaskett (for herself, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Adams, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. 
Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Wild, and Mr. Davis of 
Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of the last Tuesday of April 
  each year as ``APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day''.

Whereas kidney disease affects an estimated 37,000,000 Americans, and more than 
        550,000 are on dialysis;
Whereas Black individuals with kidney disease are more likely to develop kidney 
        failure than any other racial group;
Whereas the health disparities in kidney failure are unsustainable, with Black 
        people making up 13 percent of the United States population but 
        accounting for 35 percent of those with kidney failure;
Whereas kidney failure places enormous physical, emotional, and financial 
        burdens on individuals and costs the Medicare Program over 
        $50,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas there are genetic factors that can increase an individual's risk for 
        kidney disease;
Whereas one such genetic factor is having variants (mutations) in the 
        apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene;
Whereas people are more likely to have APOL1 gene variants if they are from 
        Western or Central Africa or have an ancestor who came from these 
        regions;
Whereas these variants can increase susceptibility for APOL1-mediated kidney 
        disease (AMKD), a rapidly progressive form of kidney disease that can 
        lead to kidney failure;
Whereas it is estimated that if a patient has variants in both copies of the 
        APOL1 gene, there is a 1 in 5 chance they will go on to develop kidney 
        disease, and an estimated 13 percent of Black Americans have variants in 
        both copies of the APOL1 gene;
Whereas a person with AMKD may not have any symptoms of kidney disease until 
        their kidneys are close to failing;
Whereas genetic testing can reveal an individual's risk for AMKD, empowering 
        them to take the steps necessary to protect their kidney health before 
        it is too late;
Whereas individuals who are found to have APOL1 genetic variants can reduce 
        their risk for kidney failure by meeting with their doctor regularly, 
        eating a healthy diet, taking all medications as prescribed, exercising 
        for at least 30 minutes a day, and not smoking or using tobacco;
Whereas additional awareness and research of APOL1 genetic mutations are needed 
        to improve understanding of the kidney disease disparities in this 
        population;
Whereas there are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments 
        available for APOL1-mediated kidney disease, but ongoing research and 
        clinical trials could provide an opportunity for researchers to develop 
        and test safe treatments for APOL1-mediated kidney disease; and
Whereas the House of Representatives can raise public awareness of APOL1-
        mediated kidney disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``APOL1-
        Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day'';
            (2) encourages each person of the United States to become 
        better informed about and aware of kidney disease and APOL1-
        mediated kidney disease; and
            (3) encourages people from or with ancestry from Western 
        and Central Africa to consider genetic testing for APOL1 gene 
        mutations.
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