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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 12, 2018 12:29 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jeffrey P. Pyle |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Recognizing March 8, 2018, as World Kidney Day - being introduced TODAY |
| When it comes to vital organs, hearts get all the love and kidneys get the short end of the stick. March 8th was recognized as World Kidney Day. The National Kidney Foundation reminded everyone to “Heart Your Kidneys” in an effort to make kidney health a part of every conversation with the same urgency as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Because, if your kidneys stop working, so do you. March 8, 2018, was recognized as World Kidney Day. The month of March was recognized as “National Kidney Month” by the National Kidney Foundation (NFK). More than 30 million American adults are estimated to have kidney disease, the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S., and growing in prevalence. Each year more than 36,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with kidney cancer. I am one of them. As a kidney cancer survivor, this legislation is very important to me. To further raise awareness, among the young and the young at heart, NFK partnered with a 10-year-old America’s Got Talent singer and kidney transplant recipient, Angelica Hale. NFK and Angelica are advancing the “Heart Your Kidneys” public awareness campaign introduced last year to elevate knowledge about, and concern for, kidneys to the level of the body’s other, better-understood, vital organs such as the heart. People also need to know that kidneys are the foundation for a healthy heart. Kidney healthy is also heart healthy, so when you “heart your kidneys,” you also show love for your heart! The number one cause of death in people with kidney disease is heart disease. At age 4, Angelica’s kidneys failed. Her mother, Eva Hale, donated one of her own kidneys to her daughter to save her life. Today, both mother and daughter are healthy. Angelica’s story is a reminder that when your kidneys stop working, so do you. Dialysis or a transplant is needed just to stay alive. “Eat right, exercise, drink water and keep your kidneys healthy because whatever you’re good at, there’s only one you.” Said Angelica as part of a new series “Heart Your Kidneys” video public service announcement she recorded for NKF. I am introducing this legislation to help NKF urge anyone with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease to speak with their doctor this month, or anytime, and ask about getting tested for kidney disease. “It takes just two simple tests at the doctor’s office to check your kidney health. Even if you inherit kidney disease, you may be able to slow down progression of the disease with lifestyle changes,” said NKF spokesperson. This resolution will run on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018. I will introduce the bill by the end of the day today (Monday, March 12). If you are interested in cosponsoring this resolution, please contact my Harrisburg Legislative Assistant, Erica Godsey, at 783-5327 or via e-mail at egodsey@pahousegop.com as soon as possible to be added. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HR758