Bill Text: TX HR137 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing September 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-12 - Reported enrolled [HR137 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR137-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 137 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month is an | ||
| international campaign held in September to help call attention to | ||
| this serious disease and to rally support for the search for a cure; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Pulmonary fibrosis refers to scarring of the lungs, | ||
| which over time can destroy lung tissue and lead to deteriorated | ||
| respiratory function; according to some estimates, the disease | ||
| affects 1 out of every 200 American adults over the age of 60, and | ||
| approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Researchers have identified a multitude of causes of | ||
| pulmonary fibrosis, including certain medications, radiation, | ||
| autoimmune diseases, environmental triggers, and exposure to | ||
| hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica, and coal dust; often, | ||
| the exact cause is difficult to determine, and most patients go on | ||
| to be diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or pulmonary | ||
| fibrosis of unknown origin; and | ||
| WHEREAS, As the disease worsens, patients experience | ||
| shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, and other symptoms, which | ||
| may develop rapidly in some cases and progress more slowly over a | ||
| period of months or years in others; the lung damage caused by | ||
| pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, but medications and | ||
| therapies can sometimes help ease symptoms and improve quality of | ||
| life; if symptoms are severe, sufferers may be candidates for a lung | ||
| transplant; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Public awareness plays an important role in | ||
| promoting research for pulmonary fibrosis and ensuring that every | ||
| patient receives a timely and accurate diagnosis, and Pulmonary | ||
| Fibrosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity for patients, | ||
| families, and advocates around the world to join together to help | ||
| make these goals a reality; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize September 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis | ||
| Awareness Month and encourage all Texans to learn more about this | ||
| critical health issue. | ||
| Price | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 137 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 6, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
