Bill Text: TX HR137 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing September 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-12 - Reported enrolled [HR137 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR137-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 137 |
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WHEREAS, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month is an | ||
international campaign held in September to help call attention to | ||
this serious disease and to rally support for the search for a cure; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Pulmonary fibrosis refers to scarring of the lungs, | ||
which over time can destroy lung tissue and lead to deteriorated | ||
respiratory function; according to some estimates, the disease | ||
affects 1 out of every 200 American adults over the age of 60, and | ||
approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and | ||
WHEREAS, Researchers have identified a multitude of causes of | ||
pulmonary fibrosis, including certain medications, radiation, | ||
autoimmune diseases, environmental triggers, and exposure to | ||
hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica, and coal dust; often, | ||
the exact cause is difficult to determine, and most patients go on | ||
to be diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or pulmonary | ||
fibrosis of unknown origin; and | ||
WHEREAS, As the disease worsens, patients experience | ||
shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, and other symptoms, which | ||
may develop rapidly in some cases and progress more slowly over a | ||
period of months or years in others; the lung damage caused by | ||
pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, but medications and | ||
therapies can sometimes help ease symptoms and improve quality of | ||
life; if symptoms are severe, sufferers may be candidates for a lung | ||
transplant; and | ||
WHEREAS, Public awareness plays an important role in | ||
promoting research for pulmonary fibrosis and ensuring that every | ||
patient receives a timely and accurate diagnosis, and Pulmonary | ||
Fibrosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity for patients, | ||
families, and advocates around the world to join together to help | ||
make these goals a reality; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize September 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis | ||
Awareness Month and encourage all Texans to learn more about this | ||
critical health issue. | ||
Price | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 137 was adopted by the House on March | ||
6, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||