Bill Text: NJ AJR112 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-01-19 - Approved P.L.2015, JR-15. [AJR112 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AJR112-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May of each year as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month" and amending P.L.2005, J.R.4.
Whereas, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as "CF," is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States and nearly 70,000 children and adults worldwide, 683 of whom live in this State; and
Whereas, A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, and these secretions produce life-threatening lung infections and obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food; and
Whereas, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene, and CF occurs in approximately one of every 3,500 live births in the United States; and
Whereas, The median age of survival for a person with CF is 41.1 years; and
Whereas, With advances in the treatment of CF, the number of adults with CF has steadily grown, and approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year; and
Whereas, Nearly 50 percent of the CF population is 18 years of age and older, and people with CF have a variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations of the CF gene; and
Whereas, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects is the most reliable and least costly method to identify persons likely to have CF; and
Whereas, Early diagnosis of CF permits early treatment and enhances quality of life and longevity, and the treatment of CF depends on the stage of the disease and the organs involved; and
Whereas, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the daily CF treatment regimen, and other types of treatments include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic enzymes, among others; and
Whereas, There are eight world-class treatment centers in this State which specialize in the diagnosis of CF and the care of persons with CF; and
Whereas, A critical component of treating patients with CF includes access to innovative medicines, which can play a crucial role in the lives of patients with CF; and
Whereas, Improving the length and quality of life for people with CF starts with awareness; now, therefore;
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2005, J.R.4 (C.36:2-85) is amended to read as follows:
1. [March 6 in] The month of May of each year is designated as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness [Day] Month" in the State of New Jersey to increase public awareness of cystic fibrosis as one of the most common fatal inherited diseases in the United States and the needs of persons who are coping with this disease.
(cf: P.L.2005, J.R.4, s.1)
2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution would designate May of each year as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month" in New Jersey, replacing the current designation of March 6 of each year as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day." The purpose of the resolution is to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis, promoting research and treatment.
