Bill Text: PA HR776 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the month of May 2010 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2010-10-06 - Adopted [HR776 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR776-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3635
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 776 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY SCAVELLO, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOYD, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CIVERA, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILNE, MIRABITO, MURT, OBERLANDER, D. O'BRIEN, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ, WATERS, WATSON, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 26, 2010
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 26, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2010 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a liver disease caused by one of five
forms of the hepatitis virus; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis infects individuals of all ages, ethnic
groups and socioeconomic classes in urban and rural areas of
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The hepatitis viruses, designated as A, B, C, D and
E, cause infections which are generally asymptomatic but which
lead to liver inflammation; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis A is contracted primarily through
contaminated food or water; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver
transplantation and now exceeds HIV/AIDS by a 5 to 1 ratio; and
WHEREAS, On average, two people are diagnosed with hepatitis-
related liver disease and two people die from liver cancer each
day in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization has characterized
hepatitis B and hepatitis C as diseases of primary concern for
humanity; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can easily be prevented
through awareness of transmission routes and through available
vaccines; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 280,000 residents of this Commonwealth
are infected with hepatitis C, and 75% to 85% of these persons
are chronically infected; and
WHEREAS, In the absence of a vaccine for hepatitis C,
emphasis must be placed on other means of disease prevention,
including education of health care workers, emergency services
workers, veterans and the general public; and
WHEREAS, Chronic viral hepatitis is a disease with little or
no public awareness since it is largely asymptomatic until
irreversible liver damage has occurred; and
WHEREAS, In the past year, five new hepatitis screening sites
have opened in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, There remains a need for more hepatitis screening
and testing sites in this Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of May 2010 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State
agencies, health care providers and residents of this
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Commonwealth to learn and educate others about the causes,
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis, with prevention
being the primary focus among younger Pennsylvanians; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State
agencies and health care providers to integrate hepatitis
services with existing services that target similar risks
groups, such as HIV and AIDS targeted populations, and to
connect persons with hepatitis with appropriate care using the
Commonwealth's resource directory.
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