PRINTER'S NO. 986
No. 83 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN, M. BAKER, BARD, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES,
BELARDI, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPABIANCA, CIVERA, CLYMER,
L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN, COSTA, DeWEESE, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER,
FLEAGLE, FORCIER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HARHAI,
HARHART, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HORSEY, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN,
LEDERER, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McGILL, McNAUGHTON, MELIO,
MICOZZIE, R. MILLER, MUNDY, ORIE, PIPPY, PISTELLA, PRESTON,
READSHAW, ROBERTS, RUBLEY, SAMUELSON, SATHER, SAYLOR,
SCHULER, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
T. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, VEON, WALKO, WATERS,
C. WILLIAMS, WOGAN AND WOJNAROSKI, MARCH 12, 2001
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 12, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring the month of April 2001 as "Diethylstilbestrol
2 Exposure Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was widely prescribed to an
4 estimated 5 million pregnant American women between 1938 and
5 1971 in the belief that it would prevent miscarriages; and
6 WHEREAS, More than 480,000 Pennsylvanians have been exposed
7 to DES; and
8 WHEREAS, The month of April 2001 is being nationally
9 recognized as "DES Exposure Awareness Month"; and
10 WHEREAS, Studies have shown that DES damages the reproductive
11 systems of those exposed in utero and increases the risk of
12 cancer, infertility, autoimmune disorders and a wide range of
13 other reproductive disorders; and
1 WHEREAS, Many Americans, including health care providers,
2 remain unaware of the consequences of DES exposure and the
3 recommended screening and treatment of affected patients; and
4 WHEREAS, DES exposure is associated with an increased risk of
5 breast, uterine and ovarian cancers in women and testicular and
6 urinary cancers in men; and
7 WHEREAS, Research on DES and its effects has produced
8 important advances to date, but much more needs to be done;
9 therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare the month
11 of April 2001 as "Diethylstilbestrol Exposure Awareness Month"
12 in Pennsylvania; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That all citizens of this Commonwealth learn about
14 the symptoms, diseases, diagnoses and treatments associated with
15 DES exposure; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
17 DES Action Pennsylvania and DES Action USA.
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