A resolution designating September 4, 2019, as "National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day", and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 356 Designating September 4, 2019, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary OCTOBER 16, 2019 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating September 4, 2019, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kid- ney Disease Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease. Whereas designating September 4, 2019, as ‘‘National Poly- cystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’ will raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney dis- ease, one of the most prevalent genetic kidney disorders, which affects approximately 500,000 people in the United States; Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day will help to foster an understanding of the impact poly- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR356.ATS SR356 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 SRES 356 ATS cystic kidney disease has on individuals and their fami- lies; Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a progressive, genetic disorder of the kidneys that causes damage to the kid- neys and the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gas- trointestinal organ systems; Whereas polycystic kidney disease affects the health and fi- nances of people of all ages, and equally affects people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexes; Whereas, of the people diagnosed with polycystic kidney dis- ease, approximately 10 percent have no family history of the disease, with the disease developing as a spontaneous mutation; Whereas there are very few treatments and no cure for poly- cystic kidney disease, which is one of the 4 leading causes of kidney failure in the United States; Whereas 50 percent of individuals with polycystic kidney dis- ease experience kidney failure at an average age of 57; Whereas friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers of indi- viduals with polycystic kidney disease can assist with the challenges created by polycystic kidney disease, including by helping such individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle and make regular visits to their health care providers; Whereas the severity of the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease and limited public awareness of the disease may cause individuals to forego regular visits to their physi- cians or avoid following the health recommendations of their doctors, which experts suggest could help prevent further complications should kidney failure occur; Whereas people who have chronic, life-threatening diseases like polycystic kidney disease may experience depression; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR356.ATS SR356 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 SRES 356 ATS Whereas the PKD Foundation and its more than 50 volun- teer chapters around the United States are dedicated to— (1) conducting research to find treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease; (2) fostering public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease; (3) educating individuals and their families about the disease to improve their treatment and care; and (4) providing support, including by sponsoring the annual ‘‘Walk for PKD’’ to raise funds for polycystic kid- ney disease research, education, advocacy, and awareness; and Whereas the PKD Foundation is partnering on September 4, 2019, with sister organizations in Canada, Australia, and other countries to increase international awareness of polycystic kidney disease: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates September 4, 2019, as ‘‘National 2 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’; 3 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 4 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day to raise 5 public awareness and understanding of polycystic 6 kidney disease; 7 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 8 to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and 9 (4) encourages all people in the United States 10 and interested groups to support National Polycystic 11 Kidney Awareness Day through appropriate cere- 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR356.ATS SR356 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 SRES 356 ATS monies and activities to promote public awareness of 1 polycystic kidney disease and to foster an under- 2 standing of the impact of the disease on individuals 3 and their families. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR356.ATS SR356 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS