[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21422-21423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 259, which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 259) designating September 13, 2009, 
     as ``National Celiac Disease Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 259) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 259

       Whereas celiac disease affects approximately 1 in every 130 
     people in the United States, for a total of 3,000,000 people;
       Whereas the majority of people with celiac disease have yet 
     to be diagnosed;
       Whereas celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder 
     that is classified as both an autoimmune condition and a 
     genetic condition;
       Whereas celiac disease causes damage to the lining of the 
     small intestine, which results in overall malnutrition;
       Whereas when a person with celiac disease consumes foods 
     that contain certain protein

[[Page 21423]]

     fractions, that person suffers a cell-mediated immune 
     response that damages the villi of the small intestine, 
     interfering with the absorption of nutrients in food and the 
     effectiveness of medications;
       Whereas such problematic protein fractions are found in 
     wheat, barley, rye, and oats, which are used to produce many 
     foods, medications, and vitamins;
       Whereas because celiac disease is a genetic disease, there 
     is an increased incidence of celiac disease in families with 
     a known history of celiac disease;
       Whereas celiac disease is underdiagnosed because the 
     symptoms can be attributed to other conditions and are easily 
     overlooked by doctors and patients;
       Whereas as recently as 2000, the average person with celiac 
     disease waited 11 years for a correct diagnosis;
       Whereas \1/2\ of all people with celiac disease do not show 
     symptoms of the disease;
       Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed by tests that measure 
     the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of 
     immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA anti-
     endomysium antibodies;
       Whereas celiac disease can be treated only by implementing 
     a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats, often called a 
     ``gluten-free diet'';
       Whereas a delay in the diagnosis of celiac disease can 
     result in damage to the small intestine, which leads to an 
     increased risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma, 
     adenocarcinoma, osteoporosis, miscarriage, congenital 
     malformation, short stature, and disorders of skin and other 
     organs;
       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 wrote, ``if the 
     patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet'';
       Whereas Dr. Samuel Gee was born on September 13, 1839; and
       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, 2009, 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 
     National Celiac Disease Awareness Day 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 and the Celiac 
     Disease Foundation.

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