CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 70Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bauer-Kahan, Dixon, and Zbur)February 15, 2024 Relative to Rare Disease Day.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 70, as introduced, Maienschein. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, There are nearly 7,000 diseases and conditions that are considered rare, each affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health; andWHEREAS, Of these nearly 7,000 rare diseases, more than 80 percent are considered ultrarare, affecting less than a few thousand Americans; andWHEREAS, While each of these diseases may affect a small number of people, rare diseases as a group affect almost 30 million Americans; and WHEREAS, Many rare diseases are serious and debilitating conditions that have a significant impact on the lives of those affected; andWHEREAS, While more than 600 drugs and biologics have been approved for the treatment of rare diseases, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration, millions of Americans still have rare diseases for which there are no approved treatments; andWHEREAS, Individuals and families affected by rare diseases often experience problems such as diagnosis delay, difficulty finding a medical expert, and lack of access to treatments or ancillary services; and WHEREAS, While the public is familiar with some rare diseases, such as Lou Gehrigs disease, and are sympathetic to those affected, many patients and families affected by less widely known rare diseases bear a large share of the burden of funding research and raising public awareness to support the search for treatments; andWHEREAS, Millions of Californians are among those affected by rare diseases because nearly one in 10 Americans has a rare disease; andWHEREAS, The National Organization for Rare Disorders is organizing a nationwide observance of Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024; and WHEREAS, Thousands of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, companies developing orphan products to treat people with rare diseases, and others in the State of California will participate in that observance; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby proclaims February 29, 2024, as Rare Disease Day in California; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 70Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bauer-Kahan, Dixon, and Zbur)February 15, 2024 Relative to Rare Disease Day.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 70, as introduced, Maienschein. Digest Key
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution
No. 70
Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bauer-Kahan, Dixon, and Zbur)February 15, 2024
Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bauer-Kahan, Dixon, and Zbur)
February 15, 2024
Relative to Rare Disease Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HR 70, as introduced, Maienschein.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, There are nearly 7,000 diseases and conditions that are considered rare, each affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health; and
WHEREAS, Of these nearly 7,000 rare diseases, more than 80 percent are considered ultrarare, affecting less than a few thousand Americans; and
WHEREAS, While each of these diseases may affect a small number of people, rare diseases as a group affect almost 30 million Americans; and
WHEREAS, Many rare diseases are serious and debilitating conditions that have a significant impact on the lives of those affected; and
WHEREAS, While more than 600 drugs and biologics have been approved for the treatment of rare diseases, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration, millions of Americans still have rare diseases for which there are no approved treatments; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and families affected by rare diseases often experience problems such as diagnosis delay, difficulty finding a medical expert, and lack of access to treatments or ancillary services; and
WHEREAS, While the public is familiar with some rare diseases, such as Lou Gehrigs disease, and are sympathetic to those affected, many patients and families affected by less widely known rare diseases bear a large share of the burden of funding research and raising public awareness to support the search for treatments; and
WHEREAS, Millions of Californians are among those affected by rare diseases because nearly one in 10 Americans has a rare disease; and
WHEREAS, The National Organization for Rare Disorders is organizing a nationwide observance of Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, companies developing orphan products to treat people with rare diseases, and others in the State of California will participate in that observance; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby proclaims February 29, 2024, as Rare Disease Day in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.