Bill Text: IL SJR0046 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the 112th Congress of the United States to enact the federal Viral Hepatitis Testing Act of 2011.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-30 - Adopted Both Houses [SJR0046 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SJR0046-Introduced.html

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, An estimated 4,000,000 individuals in the United
States are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 75%
of these individuals are unaware they are infected; and
WHEREAS, HCV is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver
failure and the most common reason for liver transplantation in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, HCV is 4 times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS and
led to more than 15,000 deaths in the United States in 2007;
350,000 people die each year due to hepatitis C-related liver
disease worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Two of every 3 people with chronic hepatitis C in
this country are baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965 who
were infected decades ago; and
WHEREAS, HCV disproportionately affects minorities;
African Americans, who make up 14% of the population, account
for 22% of HCV cases in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, The Hispanic community also bears a heavier
burden; chronic HCV is more aggressive and carries a higher
risk of cirrhosis for Hispanics than for any other ethnic

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group; and
WHEREAS, The costs for HCV patients are projected to more
than double over the next 20 years, from $30,000,000,000 to
$85,000,000,000 per year; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONCURRING HEREIN, that, due to the prevalence and highly
communicable nature of hepatitis, we urge the 112th Congress of
the United States to enact the federal Viral Hepatitis Testing
Act of 2011 in order to:
(1) authorize testing programs with the goal of making
75% of infected people aware of their status by 2016;
(2) authorize the development and distribution of
public information about viral hepatitis detection and the
control of infections;
(3) authorize better coordination of medical treatment
and counseling so that infected people have access to the
best services; and
(4) improve the education, training, and skills of
health professionals in the detection and control of viral
hepatitis infections; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to members of the Illinois congressional delegation.