[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 26 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                PRIMARY IMMUNE DEFICIENCY AWARENESS WEEK

  The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 151) 
designating the week of April 10 through 16, 1994, as ``Primary Immune 
Deficiency Awareness Week,'' which had been report from the Committee 
on the Judiciary, was considered, ordered to be engrossed for a third 
reading, read the third time and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution with its preamble is as follows:

                             S.J. Res. 151

       Whereas primary immune deficiency is a congenital defect in 
     the immune system such that the body cannot adequately defend 
     itself from infection;
       Whereas primary immune deficiency is most often diagnosed 
     in children and affects more children than leukemia and 
     lymphoma combined;
       Whereas primary immune deficiency is believed to effect 
     500,000 Americans and possibly more because the defect is 
     often undiagnosed and misdiagnosed;
       Whereas many forms of primary immune deficiency are 
     inherited;
       Whereas there are currently considered to be 70 forms of 
     primary immune deficiency ranging from severe combined immune 
     deficiency (which is fatal if untreated) to chronic recurring 
     infections and allergies that cannot be managed with 
     prophylactic antibiotics;
       Whereas the earliest symptoms of primary immune deficiency 
     are easily confused with a number of common illnesses or 
     infections so that physicians often fail to diagnose and 
     treat the underlying problem;
       Whereas once suspected, primary immune deficiency can be 
     diagnosed through a series of blood screenings that test 
     immune function;
       Whereas early intervention and treatment can save lives and 
     prevent permanent damage to lungs and other organs;
       Whereas many form of treatment are available once a 
     specific diagnosis is made;
       Whereas procedures such as bone marrow transplants may 
     result in complete cure, and other treatments like monthly 
     infusions of gamma globulin dramatically reduce a patient's 
     risk of infections and enable the patient to lead a normal 
     life;
       Whereas patients may have long periods of normal health 
     then suddenly be struck by severe fevers and infections;
       Whereas lack of public awareness can lead to anxiety and 
     leave families isolated and confused; and
       Whereas education is essential to make the general public, 
     health care professionals, employers, and insurers more 
     knowledgeable about primary immune deficiency: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week 
     of April 10 through 16, 1994, is designated as ``Primary 
     Immune Deficiency Awareness Week''. The President is 
     authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon 
     the people of the United States to observe the week with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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