[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 590--DESIGNATING MARCH 15, 2024, AS ``LONG COVID 
                            AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mr. Hickenlooper, 
Ms. Smith, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Baldwin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 590

       Whereas Long COVID is a systemic and often debilitating and 
     disabling long-term outcome of an acute COVID-19 infection;
       Whereas Long COVID has the potential to worsen pre-existing 
     health conditions and can cause death months to years after 
     an acute COVID-19 infection;
       Whereas there are more than 200 documented Long COVID 
     symptoms, which can vary from person to person and can 
     include fatigue, cognitive impairment, muscle or joint pain, 
     shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, 
     mood changes, and damage to organ systems and tissue;
       Whereas Long COVID can trigger other infection-associated 
     chronic conditions such as postural orthostatic tachycardia 
     syndrome and other forms of dysautonomia, mast cell 
     activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis/
     chronic fatigue syndrome, and many others;
       Whereas there is no single diagnostic test or protocol to 
     confirm a Long COVID diagnosis;
       Whereas many providers are unprepared to identify, 
     diagnose, or treat Long COVID due to a lack of education and 
     information, and some providers refrain from making a Long 
     COVID diagnosis at all;
       Whereas, according to estimates from the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, there are 22,000,000 adults 
     and 1,000,000 children currently living with Long COVID in 
     the United States, and there are likely more;
       Whereas Long COVID disproportionately affects racial and 
     ethnic minorities, women, the elderly, people with 
     disabilities, and those with lower incomes;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
     Department of Justice have issued guidance clarifying that 
     Long COVID can be considered a disability under the Americans 
     with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
       Whereas Long COVID has had a devastating financial impact 
     on individuals and on the overall economy with an estimated 
     economic cost of $3,700,000,000,000 due to reduced quality of 
     life, lost earnings, and direct medical care spending for 
     those who suffer from Long COVID;
       Whereas people with Long COVID are 10 percent less likely 
     to be employed and those who are employed work 50 percent 
     fewer hours than people without Long COVID;
       Whereas there may be as many as 4,000,000 fewer workers in 
     the United States workforce due to the impact of the disease;
       Whereas there are no approved cures for Long COVID, and 
     most of the treatments involve addressing individual symptoms 
     using established therapies; and
       Whereas investing in Long COVID research and promoting the 
     development of treatment and diagnostic tools remain 
     priorities to improve the quality of life for those impacted 
     by Long COVID: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 15, 2024, as ``Long COVID Awareness 
     Day'';
       (2) recognizes patients and their families and caregivers 
     who are affected by Long COVID;
       (3) commends the work of doctors and researchers who 
     continue to advance the study of Long COVID; and
       (4) encourages relevant Federal agencies--
       (A) to expand research efforts to develop effective 
     treatments, diagnostics, and cures;
       (B) to publish information on Long COVID to educate the 
     public and providers about the impact of the condition; and
       (C) to make every effort to ensure that patients and their 
     families and caregivers receive adequate support and care.

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