[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 121 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 550--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 13, 2012, AS ``NATIONAL 
                     CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 550

       Whereas according to the National Center for Health 
     Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     celiac disease affects approximately 1 in every 141 people in 
     the United States;
       Whereas the majority of people with celiac disease have yet 
     to be diagnosed;
       Whereas celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder 
     that is classified as both an autoimmune condition and a 
     genetic condition;
       Whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the 
     small intestine, which results in overall malnutrition;
       Whereas when a person with celiac disease consumes foods 
     that contain certain protein fractions, that person suffers a 
     cell-mediated immune response that damages the villi of the 
     small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients 
     in food and the effectiveness of medications;
       Whereas such problematic protein fractions are found in 
     wheat, barley, rye, and oats, which are used to produce many 
     foods, medications, and vitamins;
       Whereas because celiac disease is a genetic disease, there 
     is an increased incidence of celiac disease in families with 
     a known history of celiac disease;
       Whereas celiac disease is underdiagnosed because the 
     symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and are easily 
     overlooked by doctors and patients;
       Whereas as recently as 2000, the average person with celiac 
     disease waited 11 years for a correct diagnosis;
       Whereas \1/2\ of all people with celiac disease do not show 
     symptoms of the disease;
       Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed by tests that measure 
     the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 
     immunoglobulin A, antitissue transglutaminase, and IgA 
     antiendomysium antibodies;
       Whereas celiac disease can be treated only by implementing 
     a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats, often called a 
     ``gluten-free diet'';
       Whereas a delay in the diagnosis of celiac disease can 
     result in damage to the small intestine, which leads to an 
     increased risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma, 
     adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage, congenital 
     malformation, short stature, and disorders of the skin and 
     other organs;
       Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune 
     disorders, including thyroid disease, systemic lupus 
     erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen 
     vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's 
     syndrome;
       Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was 
     first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who wrote, ``if the 
     patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet'';
       Whereas Dr. Samuel Gee was born on September 13, 1839; and
       Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise 
     awareness in the general public and the medical community of 
     celiac disease: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 13, 2012, as ``National Celiac 
     Disease Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes that all people of the United States should 
     become more informed and aware of celiac disease;
       (3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     National Celiac Disease Awareness Day with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities; and
       (4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Celiac Sprue 
     Association, the American Celiac Society, and the Celiac 
     Disease Foundation.

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