THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DEASY, READSHAW, BAKER, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KILLION, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, RAVENSTAHL, ROCK, ROSS, SABATINA, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHMOTZER, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, WATERS, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD, MILNE AND GEIST, JUNE 20, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 20, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Declaring the week of September 16 through 22, 2012, as

"Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Mitochondria are the power plants in every cell of a

person's body and create more than 90% of the energy needed by

the body to sustain life and support growth; and

WHEREAS, Mitochondria may not function correctly due to

genetic defects, damage caused by drugs or damage caused by

destructive molecules called free radicals; and

WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, cell injury and cell death

follow, and if the process is repeated throughout the body,

whole systems begin to fail; and

WHEREAS, Mitochondrial diseases can cause isolated symptoms,

such as seizures, low blood counts, blindness, deafness,

dementia, heart failure and progressive muscle weakness, but

more often they cause failure of several organ systems in

sequence; and

WHEREAS, Although mitochondrial diseases can affect any

person at any age, it is estimated that more than 1 in 4,000

children born in the United States each year will develop a

mitochondrial disease by ten years of age; and 

WHEREAS, Since mitochondrial disorders mimic other diseases,

it is believed that they are underdiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Currently no cures or effective therapies exist, but

early diagnosis can help patients and their families use proper

medication and nutritional supplements to improve the quality of

life, and even prolong life; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate that all citizens of this

Commonwealth be better informed about mitochondrial diseases and

their impact; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare the week

of September 16 through 22, 2012, as "Mitochondrial Disease

Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further 

RESOLVED, That the citizens of this Commonwealth be urged to

observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.