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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 701
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WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as CF, is a |
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genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 children and |
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adults in the United States and nearly 70,000 children and adults |
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worldwide, more than 1,700 of whom live in this state; and |
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WHEREAS, In persons with cystic fibrosis, a defective gene |
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causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that |
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clogs the lungs, and these secretions produce life-threatening |
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lung infections; the secretions also obstruct the pancreas and |
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prevent its digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to |
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help the body break down and absorb food; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless |
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carriers of the defective CF gene, and this disease occurs in |
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approximately one of every 3,500 live births in the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, The median age of survival for a person with cystic |
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fibrosis is 41.1 years; and |
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WHEREAS, With advances in the treatment of CF, the number |
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of adults living with this disease has steadily grown, and |
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approximately 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed |
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each year; and |
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WHEREAS, Nearly 50 percent of the affected population is 18 |
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years of age or older, and people with the disease have a variety |
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of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations of the CF |
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gene; and |
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WHEREAS, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects |
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is the most reliable and least costly method to identify persons |
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likely to have cystic fibrosis; and |
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WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of the disease permits early |
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treatment and enhances the quality of life and longevity of |
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patients; the treatment of CF depends on the stage of the disease |
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and the organs involved; and |
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WHEREAS, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part |
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of the daily CF treatment regimen, and other types of treatments |
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include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic enzymes, among |
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others; and |
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WHEREAS, A critical component of treating patients with |
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cystic fibrosis is access to innovative treatments, which can |
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play a crucial role in the lives of patients with CF; and |
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WHEREAS, There are 11 world-class treatment centers in |
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this state which specialize in the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis |
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and the care of persons with CF; and |
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WHEREAS, Improving the length and quality of life for |
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people with CF starts with awareness; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby designate the month of May 2017 as Cystic |
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Fibrosis Awareness Month in Texas. |
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Schwertner |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 1, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |