2015 -- H 6214

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LC002696

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

down and absorb food; and

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

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

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

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

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

and

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

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

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

costly method to identify persons likely to have CF; and

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

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

longevity; and

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

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

enzymes, among others; and

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

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

care of persons with CF; and

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

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

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

awareness; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

Executive Director, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

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LC002696

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