[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6275-S6276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 596--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2016 AS ``PULMONARY 
                       FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 596

       Whereas pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and ultimately 
     fatal condition that causes progressive scarring in the lungs 
     and generally has no known definitive cause;
       Whereas as many as 200,000 individuals in the United States 
     are known to suffer from pulmonary fibrosis, the majority of 
     whom are between the ages of 50 and 75;
       Whereas the average survival rate for the idiopathic form 
     of pulmonary fibrosis is just 2.8 years and up to 80 percent 
     of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients die within 5 years 
     of diagnosis;
       Whereas pulmonary fibrosis takes the lives of 40,000 
     individuals in the United States each year, approximately 1 
     death every 13 minutes;
       Whereas many patients with pulmonary fibrosis are 
     misdiagnosed for 1 year or longer after the patients are 
     presenting with pulmonary fibrosis symptoms;
       Whereas as of September 2016, there are no biomarkers for 
     screening and testing for pulmonary fibrosis;
       Whereas a cure or drug that is effective for all pulmonary 
     fibrosis patients that would extend life or universally 
     improve symptoms does not exist;
       Whereas the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis vary from person 
     to person and include shortness of breath, a dry cough, 
     fatigue, weight loss, and aching muscles and joints;
       Whereas volunteers, researchers, caregivers, and medical 
     professionals are working to improve the quality of life for 
     individuals with pulmonary fibrosis and the families of those 
     individuals; and
       Whereas developing more effective treatments for pulmonary 
     fibrosis and providing access to quality care to individuals 
     with pulmonary fibrosis requires increased research, 
     education, and community support services: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2016 as ``Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Month;
       (3) continues to support more robust and accelerated 
     research to develop more effective treatments for pulmonary 
     fibrosis and to ultimately find a cure for the disease;

[[Page S6276]]

       (4) recognizes the courage and contributions of individuals 
     with pulmonary fibrosis who participate in vital clinical 
     trials to advance the knowledge of the disease; and
       (5) commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, 
     researchers, and millions of individuals in the United States 
     and abroad working to improve the quality of life for 
     individuals with pulmonary fibrosis and the families of those 
     individuals.

                          ____________________