[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9853-S9854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to consideration of S. Con. Res. 42.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 42) recognizing the 
     need to pursue research into the causes, treatment, and 
     eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting 
     the designation of a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Week, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consideration of 
the concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid on 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 42) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 42

       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung 
     disorder that causes progressive, incurable lung scarring;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 1 of about 200 
     disorders that are called ``interstitial lung diseases'';
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common 
     form of interstitial lung disease;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and 
     generally fatal disease marked by progressive scarring of the 
     lungs that causes an irreversible loss of the ability of the 
     lung tissue to transport oxygen;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, 
     often causing disability or death within a few years;
       Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis;
       Whereas more than 128,000 people in the United States have 
     idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and more than 48,000 new cases 
     are diagnosed each year;
       Whereas there has been a 156-percent increase in mortality 
     from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2001;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed 
     or under-diagnosed;
       Whereas the median survival rate for patients with 
     idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 2 to 3 years, about \2/3\ of 
     patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis die within 5 
     years, and approximately 40,000 patients with idiopathic 
     pulmonary fibrosis die each year; and
       Whereas there is a pressing need to increase awareness and 
     detection of this misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed disorder, 
     and of all interstitial lung diseases: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes, 
     treatment, and eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis;
       (2) supports the work of advocates and organizations in 
     educating, supporting, and providing hope for individuals who 
     suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including efforts 
     to organize a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Week;
       (3) congratulates advocates and organizations for their 
     efforts to educate the public about idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis while funding research to help find a cure for this 
     disorder;
       (4) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
     National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;
       (5) welcomes the issuance of a proclamation designating an 
     appropriate week as National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Week; and

[[Page S9854]]

       (6) supports the goals and ideals of a National Idiopathic 
     Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.

                          ____________________