PRINTER'S NO. 2562
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
561
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY HEFFLEY, BERNSTINE, BAKER, NEILSON, MACKENZIE,
BOBACK, HENNESSEY, HAHN, BURNS, BIZZARRO, DiGIROLAMO, TAYLOR,
SCHLOSSBERG, KAUFFMAN, WARD, CAUSER, VAZQUEZ, TOOHIL,
PASHINSKI, DUSH, SONNEY, PICKETT, MARSICO, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
LONGIETTI, RYAN, CALTAGIRONE, O'NEILL, CHARLTON, MILLARD,
SAMUELSON, READSHAW, EVERETT, D. COSTA, SCHWEYER, ROZZI,
GROVE AND CONKLIN, OCTOBER 12, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 12, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of October 2017 as "Down Syndrome
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in
approximately 1 in every 700 births; and
WHEREAS, The most common form of Down syndrome, trisomy 21,
is due to an error in cell division, just prior to or during
conception, with the 21st chromosome dividing in three instead
of two, resulting in a person's being born with 47 instead of 46
chromosomes in each cell; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 400,000 people of various
ethnic, racial, religious and socioeconomic groups with Down
syndrome living in the United States; and
WHEREAS, While people with Down syndrome are at a higher risk
for various conditions, such as congenital heart defects,
respiratory problems and thyroid issues, advances in treatments
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enable them to lead healthy lives; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to these medical treatments and continuing
research, life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has
increased from 25 years of age in 1983 to 60 years of age today;
and
WHEREAS, Early intervention, appropriate speech, physical and
occupational therapies and quality education programs enable
people with Down syndrome to adapt and thrive; and
WHEREAS, With such programs and the support of their families
and communities, people with Down syndrome attend school,
participate in postsecondary opportunities, with many going on
to college, obtain full-time employment, enter into marriage and
fully participate in their communities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of October 2017 as "Down Syndrome Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania, recognizing the positive contributions that people
with Down syndrome and their families make to our communities in
the nation and in this Commonwealth.
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