[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         PASSAGE OF S. RES. 199

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to express my appreciation for 
the passage of S. Res. 199 by unanimous consent last night. This 
resolution supports the goals and ideals of Crohn's and Colitis 
Awareness Week.
  Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, known collectively as 
inflammatory bowel disease, are chronic disorders of the 
gastrointestinal tract which afflict approximately 1.4 million 
Americans, 30 percent of whom are diagnosed in their childhood years. 
IBD can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, and intestinal bleeding. 
Complications related to IBD can include: arthritis, osteoporosis, 
anemia, liver disease, growth and developmental challenges, and 
colorectal cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease is being diagnosed with 
increased frequency in children and can be especially devastating for 
these young patients and their families.
  Despite the prevalence of IBD, a lack of awareness among both the 
general public and health professionals may contribute to the 
misdiagnosis and mismanagement of Crohn's disease and ulcerative 
colitis. S. Res. 199 will support efforts to increase awareness and 
education about these illnesses. It will also recognize the individuals 
and families who must contend with IBD as part of their daily lives, as 
well as the health care professionals who care for Crohn's disease and 
ulcerative colitis patients and the biomedical researchers who work to 
advance research aimed at the development of new treatments and a cure 
for these illnesses. The passage of this resolution will give hope to 
millions of Americans struggling with Crohn's disease and ulcerative 
colitis--particularly young children--that we will continue to focus 
our attention on these very difficult conditions.

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