PRINTER'S NO. 1996
No. 310 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, PILEGGI, STACK, C. WILLIAMS, COSTA,
BOSCOLA, KASUNIC, FONTANA, PIPPY, STOUT, ERICKSON, ORIE,
TOMLINSON, O'PAKE, PUNT, RAFFERTY, WASHINGTON, BRUBAKER,
TARTAGLIONE, BAKER, ARMSTRONG, MUSTO, EARLL, FOLMER, LOGAN
AND FUMO, APRIL 30, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 30, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2008 as "Crohn's Disease and
2 Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic
4 diseases that cause inflammation of the digestive and
5 gastrointestinal tract; and
6 WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two
7 main disease categories that belong to a larger group of
8 illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, In 1932 Dr. Burrill Crohn and two colleagues
11 published a landmark paper describing the features of what is
12 known today as Crohn's disease; and
13 WHEREAS, The causes of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
14 are unknown; and
15 WHEREAS, As many as 1 million Americans suffer from Crohn's
16 disease and ulcerative colitis; and
1 WHEREAS, Ten percent of persons affected by Crohn's disease
2 and ulcerative colitis are children under 18 years of age; and
3 WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect people
4 of all ages, but they are primarily diseases of adolescents and
5 young adults, affecting mainly persons between 15 and 35 years
6 of age; and
7 WHEREAS, The diseases affect males and females equally; and
8 WHEREAS, Symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
9 include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite and
10 rectal bleeding; and
11 WHEREAS, There is no known cure for Crohn's disease and
12 ulcerative colitis, only medication to suppress inflammation;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Two-thirds of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
15 sufferers must have surgery at some point in their lives; and
16 WHEREAS, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, also
17 known as the CCFA, works diligently to research the diseases,
18 provide information and aid to patients and increase national
19 awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and
20 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
21 Kidney Diseases also conducts and supports research into many
22 kinds of digestive disorders, including Crohn's disease; and
23 WHEREAS, "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness
24 Month" increases public awareness of Crohn's disease and
25 ulcerative colitis patients' circumstances, acknowledges the
26 impact of the diseases on patients and families and recognizes
27 research for treatment and a cure for Crohn's disease and
28 ulcerative colitis; therefore be it
29 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of May 2008 as
30 "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month" in
20080S0310R1996 - 2 -
1 Pennsylvania and urge all Pennsylvanians to learn about these
2 diseases.
D14L82DMS/20080S0310R1996 - 3 -