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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 528
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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 2,000 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 predicted age of survival for a person |
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with cystic fibrosis born in 2017 was 46.2 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 900 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each |
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year; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 50 percent of the affected population is |
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18 years of age or older, and people with the disease have a |
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variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations |
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of the CF 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, which 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; other types of treatments |
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include taking pancreatic enzymes and inhaled antibiotics; 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, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby designate the month of May 2019 as Cystic |
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Fibrosis Awareness Month in Texas. |
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Kolkhorst |
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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 April 1, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |