[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20206]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 42--RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO PURSUE 
 RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES, TREATMENT, AND EVENTUAL CURE FOR IDIOPATHIC 
PULMONARY FIBROSIS, SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF A NATIONAL IDIOPATHIC 
       PULMONARY FIBROSIS AWARENESS WEEK, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 42

       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung 
     disorder that causes progressive, incurable lung scarring;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 1 of about 200 
     disorders that are called ``interstitial lung diseases'';
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common 
     form of interstitial lung disease;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and 
     generally fatal disease marked by progressive scarring of the 
     lungs that causes an irreversible loss of the ability of the 
     lung tissue to transport oxygen;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, 
     often causing disability or death within a few years;
       Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis;
       Whereas more than 128,000 people in the United States have 
     idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and more than 48,000 new cases 
     are diagnosed each year;
       Whereas there has been a 156-percent increase in mortality 
     from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2001;
       Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed 
     or under-diagnosed;
       Whereas the median survival rate for patients with 
     idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 2 to 3 years, about \2/3\ of 
     patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis die within 5 
     years, and approximately 40,000 patients with idiopathic 
     pulmonary fibrosis die each year; and
       Whereas there is a pressing need to increase awareness and 
     detection of this misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed disorder, 
     and of all interstitial lung diseases: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes, 
     treatment, and eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis;
       (2) supports the work of advocates and organizations in 
     educating, supporting, and providing hope for individuals who 
     suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including efforts 
     to organize a National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Week;
       (3) congratulates advocates and organizations for their 
     efforts to educate the public about idiopathic pulmonary 
     fibrosis while funding research to help find a cure for this 
     disorder;
       (4) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
     National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week;
       (5) welcomes the issuance of a proclamation designating an 
     appropriate week as National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 
     Awareness Week; and
       (6) supports the goals and ideals of a National Idiopathic 
     Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.

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