THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY REICHLEY, BAKER, BOYD, BRADFORD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND CONKLIN, APRIL 20, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2011 as "Crohn's Disease and

Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic

diseases that cause inflammation of the digestive and

gastrointestinal tract; and

WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two

main disease categories that belong to a larger group of

illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD;

and

WHEREAS, In 1932, Dr. Burrill Crohn and two colleagues

published a landmark paper describing the features of what is

known today as Crohn's disease; and

WHEREAS, The causes of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

are unknown; and

WHEREAS, As many as 1 million Americans suffer from Crohn's

disease and ulcerative colitis; and

WHEREAS, Ten percent of persons affected by Crohn's disease

and ulcerative colitis are children under 18 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect people

of all ages, but they are primarily diseases of adolescents and

young adults, affecting mainly persons between 15 and 35 years

of age; and

WHEREAS, The diseases affect males and females equally; and

WHEREAS, Symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite and

rectal bleeding; and

WHEREAS, There is no known cure for Crohn's disease and

ulcerative colitis, only medication to suppress inflammation;

and

WHEREAS, Two-thirds of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

sufferers must have surgery at some point in their lives; and

WHEREAS, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, also

known as the CCFA, works diligently to research the diseases,

provide information and aid to patients and increase national

awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and

WHEREAS, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and

Kidney Diseases also conducts and supports research into many

kinds of digestive disorders, including Crohn's disease; and

WHEREAS, "Chron's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness

Month" increases public awareness of Crohn's disease and

ulcerative colitis patients' circumstances, acknowledges the

impact of the diseases on patients and families and recognizes

research for treatment and a cure for Crohn's disease and

ulcerative colitis; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

month of May 2011 as "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all Pennsylvanians to

learn about these diseases.