[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration 
of S. Res. 510 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 510) supporting the goals and ideals 
     of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the 
table, there be no intervening action or debate, and all statements 
relating to this matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 510) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preambles, reads as follows:

       Whereas cystic fibrosis is one of the most common life-
     threatening genetic diseases in the United States and one for 
     which there is no known cure;
       Whereas the average life expectancy of an individual with 
     cystic fibrosis is 37 years, an improvement from a life 
     expectancy in the 1960s where children did not live long 
     enough to attend elementary school, but still unacceptably 
     short;
       Whereas approximately 30,000 people in the United States 
     have cystic fibrosis, more than half of them children;
       Whereas 1 of every 3,500 babies born in the United States 
     is born with cystic fibrosis;
       Whereas more than 10,000,000 Americans are unknowing, 
     symptom-free carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     recommend that all States consider newborn screening for 
     cystic fibrosis;
       Whereas the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation urges all States to 
     implement newborn screening for cystic fibrosis to facilitate 
     early diagnosis and treatment which improves health and life 
     expectancy;
       Whereas prompt, aggressive treatment of the symptoms of 
     cystic fibrosis can extend the lives of people who have the 
     disease;
       Whereas recent advances in cystic fibrosis research have 
     produced promising leads in gene, protein, and drug therapies 
     beneficial to people who have the disease;
       Whereas innovative research is progressing faster and is 
     being conducted more aggressively than ever before, due, in 
     part, to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's establishment of a 
     model clinical trials network;
       Whereas, although the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation continues 
     to fund a research pipeline for more than 30 potential 
     therapies and funds a nationwide network of care centers that 
     extend the length and quality of life for people with cystic 
     fibrosis, lives continue to be lost to this disease every 
     day;
       Whereas education of the public about cystic fibrosis, 
     including the symptoms of the disease, increases knowledge 
     and understanding of cystic fibrosis and promotes early 
     diagnosis; and
       Whereas the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will conduct 
     activities to honor National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month 
     in May 2008: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the goals and ideals of National Cystic Fibrosis 
     Awareness Month;
       (2) supports the promotion of further public awareness and 
     understanding of cystic fibrosis;
       (3) encourages early diagnosis and access to quality care 
     for people with cystic fibrosis to improve the quality of 
     their lives; and
       (4) supports research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis by 
     fostering an enhanced research program through a strong 
     Federal commitment and expanded public-private partnerships.

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