[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 563--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, AS ``NATIONAL 
                     CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS DAY''

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

                              S. Res. 563

       Whereas celiac disease affects 2,200,000 people in the 
     United States, including 1 in 133 healthy people;
       Whereas celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a 
     protein found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley, as well as 
     some medicines and vitamins;
       Whereas exposure to gluten damages the villi of the small 
     intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients in 
     food;
       Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder and a 
     malabsorption disease;
       Whereas celiac disease is a genetic disease, with 1 in 22 
     people having a first-degree relative with celiac disease;
       Whereas the average length of time it takes for a 
     symptomatic person to be diagnosed with celiac disease is 11 
     years;
       Whereas celiac disease is often misdiagnosed and 
     underdiagnosed due to the fact that symptoms can be 
     attributed to other conditions and many doctors are not very 
     knowledgeable about the disease;
       Whereas, according to a study, 60 percent of children and 
     41 percent of adults diagnosed with celiac disease were 
     asymptomatic;
       Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed through tests measuring 
     the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 
     immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA anti-
     endomysium antibodies;
       Whereas celiac disease is treated by following a gluten-
     free diet;
       Whereas damage to the small intestine leads to an increased 
     risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma and adenocarcinoma, 
     osteoporosis, miscarriage and congenital malformation, and 
     short stature;
       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 was born on 
     September 13, 1839;
       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, 2006, 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 
     the date 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, the Celiac Disease 
     Foundation, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, 
     and the Oklahoma Celiac Support Group.

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