2015 -- H 6214

========

LC002696

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MAY 2015 AS, "CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS

MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Hearn, Marcello, Serpa, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

1

     WHEREAS, Cystic Fibrosis, commonly referred to as "CF", is a genetic disease affecting

2

approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States and nearly 70,000 children and

3

adults worldwide, 99 of whom live in this state; and

4

     WHEREAS, A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky

5

mucus that clogs the lungs, and these secretions produce life-threatening lung infections and

6

obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break

7

down and absorb food; and

8

     WHEREAS, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective

9

CF gene, and CF occurs in approximately one of every 3,500 live births in the United States; and

10

     WHEREAS, The median age of survival for a person with CF is 41.1 years; and

11

     WHEREAS, With advances in the treatment of CF, the number of adults with this disease

12

has steadily grown and approximately 1,000 new cases of this disease are diagnosed each year;

13

and

14

     WHEREAS, Nearly 50 percent of the CF population is 18 years of age and older and

15

have a variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations of the CF gene; and

16

     WHEREAS, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects is the most reliable and least

17

costly method to identify persons likely to have CF; and

18

     WHEREAS, The treatment of CF depends on the stage of the disease and the organs

19

involved. Early diagnosis of CF permits early treatment and enhances quality of life and

 

1

longevity; and

2

     WHEREAS, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the daily CF

3

treatment regimen. Additional types of treatments include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic

4

enzymes, among others; and

5

     WHEREAS, In this state, the Brown University Medical School/Rhode Island Hospital

6

Cystic Fibrosis Center is a world-class treatment center which specializes in the diagnosis and

7

care of persons with CF; and

8

     WHEREAS, A critical component in treating patients with CF includes access to

9

innovative medicines, which can play a crucial role in the lives of patients with CF; and

10

     WHEREAS, Improving the length and quality of life for people with CF starts with

11

awareness; now, therefore be it

12

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

13

Providence Plantations hereby designates the Month of May 2015, as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness

14

Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

15

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

16

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Pamela Spitzer, Massachusetts/Rhode Island

17

Executive Director, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

========

LC002696

========

 

LC002696 - Page 2 of 2