Bill Text: DE SCR206 | 2025-2026 | 153rd General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: Recognizing November 2026 As "autoimmune Disease Awareness Month" In The State Of Delaware.

Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-06-17 - Passed In House by Voice Vote [SCR206 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2025-SCR206-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Sen. Hocker & Rep. Gray
Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lawson, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Berry, Bolden, Bush, Carson, K. Johnson, Morrison, Neal, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 206

RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 2026 AS "AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its healthy tissues and organs, resulting in chronic and potentially disabling conditions; and

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life-threatening; and

WHEREAS, researchers have identified more than 140 autoimmune diseases that are chronic and, in many cases, debilitating, with no known cures; and

WHEREAS, the most common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and scleroderma; and

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that autoimmune diseases afflict up to 50 million people in the United States, of whom approximately 80% are women, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases is rising; and

WHEREAS, according to the NIH, autoimmune disease is among the top 10 leading causes of death in women under 65 years of age; and

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies reported that the United States is behind other countries in research into immune system self-recognition, the cause of autoimmune diseases; and

WHEREAS, diagnostic testing for most autoimmune diseases is not standardized, making them especially difficult to diagnose; and

WHEREAS, a study by the Autoimmune Association revealed that it takes the average patient with an autoimmune disease more than 4.5 years to get a correct diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, the NIH estimates that annual direct healthcare costs for autoimmune disease are in the range of $100 billion; and

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for research focused on the etiology of autoimmune diseases in order to better understand their root causes, rather than only treating symptoms after the disease has progressed; and

WHEREAS, federal research funding equates to approximately $26 per affected individual for autoimmune diseases, compared with approximately $405 per affected individual for cancer and approximately $2,667 per affected individual for HIV; and

WHEREAS, these comparisons are presented not to diminish the importance of continued research and investment in cancer, HIV, and other serious diseases, but to highlight the significant gap in research investment relative to the number of individuals impacted by autoimmune diseases; and

WHEREAS, the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups is a coalition of national organizations focused on autoimmune diseases, working to consolidate the voices of patients with autoimmune diseases and to promote increased education, awareness, and research into all aspects of autoimmune diseases through a collaborative approach ; and

WHEREAS, increasing public awareness, promoting early diagnosis, and supporting research are essential steps toward improving the lives of individuals living with autoimmune diseases and ultimately finding cures.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that November 2026 is hereby recognized as “Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes November 2026 as "Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month" in the State of Delaware.

Author: Senator Hocker