| PRINTER'S NO. 3470 |
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. | 830 | Session of 2014 |
INTRODUCED BY GRELL, BROWNLEE, SONNEY, HENNESSEY, COHEN, O'NEILL, K. BOYLE, O'BRIEN, SCHLOSSBERG, KILLION, MUSTIO, MIRABITO, DiGIROLAMO, VEREB, REGAN, V. BROWN, KOTIK, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, KORTZ, RAPP, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, BOBACK, BIZZARRO, LUCAS, ROZZI, DUNBAR, BAKER, BISHOP, GABLER, KNOWLES, MICOZZIE, HARHART, MILLARD, ROCK, PICKETT, GODSHALL, MATZIE, SCHLEGEL CULVER, CUTLER, MURT, KAVULICH, MCNEILL, SWANGER, PARKER, YOUNGBLOOD, D. COSTA, GIBBONS, CARROLL, MACKENZIE, ROSS, C. HARRIS, WATSON, HELM, DERMODY, R. BROWN, GINGRICH, THOMAS, ELLIS, MARKOSEK, SAYLOR, TAYLOR, MARSICO, FLECK, READSHAW, HAHN, MILNE, FARINA, ROEBUCK AND DELOZIER, APRIL 30, 2014
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 30, 2014
A RESOLUTION
1Designating the month of May 2014 as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness
2Month" in Pennsylvania.
3WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as "CF," is a
4genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and
5adults in the United States and nearly 70,000 children and
6adults worldwide, 1,461 of whom live in this Commonwealth; and
7WHEREAS, A defective gene causes the body to produce an
8abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, and these
9secretions produce life-threatening lung infections and obstruct
10the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the
11intestines to help break down and absorb food; and
12WHEREAS, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless
1carriers of the defective CF gene, and CF occurs in
2approximately one of every 3,500 live births in the United
3States; and
4WHEREAS, The median age of survival for a person with CF is
541.1 years; and
6WHEREAS, With advances in the treatment of CF, the number of
7adults with CF has steadily grown, and approximately 1,000 new
8cases of CF are diagnosed each year; and
9WHEREAS, Nearly 50% of the CF population is 18 years of age
10and older, and people with CF have a variety of symptoms
11attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations of the CF gene; and
12WHEREAS, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects is
13the most reliable and least costly method to identify persons
14likely to have CF; and
15WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of CF permits early treatment and
16enhances quality of life and longevity and the treatment of CF
17depends on the stage of the disease and the organs involved; and
18WHEREAS, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part
19of the daily CF treatment regimen, and other types of treatments
20include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic enzymes, among
21others; and
22WHEREAS, There are 11 world-class treatment centers in this
23Commonwealth which specialize in the diagnosis of CF and the
24care of persons with CF; and
25WHEREAS, Improving the length and quality of life for people
26with CF starts with awareness; therefore be it
27RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
28month of May 2014 as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month" in
29Pennsylvania.