[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 108 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S5971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 201--DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER 
   2013 AS ``NATIONAL POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS DAY'' AND 
    RAISING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

  Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Mikulski, and 
Mr. Rubio) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to.:

                              S. Res. 201

       Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day 
     will raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic 
     kidney disease, one of the most prevalent, life-threatening 
     genetic kidney diseases;
       Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day 
     will also foster understanding of the impact polycystic 
     kidney disease has on patients and their families;
       Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a progressive, genetic 
     disorder of the kidneys that causes damage to the kidneys and 
     the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gastrointestinal 
     organ systems;
       Whereas polycystic kidney disease has a devastating impact 
     on the health and finances of people of all ages, and equally 
     affects people of all races, genders, nationalities, 
     geographic locations, and income levels;
       Whereas, of the people diagnosed with polycystic kidney 
     disease, approximately 10 percent have no family history of 
     the disease, with the disease developing as a spontaneous (or 
     new) mutation;
       Whereas there is no treatment or cure for polycystic kidney 
     disease, which is one of the 4 leading causes of kidney 
     failure in the United States;
       Whereas the vast majority of patients with polycystic 
     kidney disease reach kidney failure at an average age of 53, 
     causing a severe strain on dialysis and kidney 
     transplantation resources and on the delivery of health care 
     in the United States as the largest segment of the population 
     of the United States, the ``baby boomers'', continues to age;
       Whereas polycystic kidney disease instills in patients fear 
     of an unknown future with a life-threatening genetic disease 
     and apprehension over possible discrimination, including the 
     risk of losing their health and life insurance, their jobs, 
     and their chances for promotion;
       Whereas countless friends, loved ones, spouses, and 
     caregivers must shoulder the physical, emotional, and 
     financial burdens that polycystic kidney disease causes;
       Whereas the severity of the symptoms of polycystic kidney 
     disease and the limited public awareness of the disease cause 
     many patients to live in denial and forego regular visits to 
     their physicians or avoid following good health management, 
     which would help avoid more severe complications when kidney 
     failure occurs;
       Whereas people who have chronic, life-threatening diseases 
     like polycystic kidney disease have a predisposition to 
     depression and its resultant consequences of 7 times the 
     national average because of their anxiety over pain, 
     suffering, and premature death; and
       Whereas the PKD Foundation and its more than 60 volunteer 
     chapters around the United States are dedicated to conducting 
     research to find treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney 
     disease, fostering public awareness and understanding of the 
     disease, educating patients and their families about the 
     disease to improve their treatment and care, and providing 
     support and encouraging people to become organ donors, 
     including by sponsoring the annual ``Walk for PKD'' to raise 
     funds for polycystic kidney disease research, education, 
     advocacy, and awareness: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the first Wednesday in September 2013 as 
     ``National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Polycystic 
     Kidney Disease Awareness Day to raise public awareness and 
     understanding of polycystic kidney disease;
       (3) recognizes the need for additional research to find a 
     cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
       (4) encourages all people in the United States and 
     interested groups to support National Polycystic Kidney 
     Awareness Day through appropriate ceremonies and activities 
     to promote public awareness of polycystic kidney disease and 
     to foster understanding of the impact of the disease on 
     patients and their families.

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