Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HCR161 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Rep. K. Johnson & Rep. S. Moore & Sen. Pinkney       Reps. Bolden, Parker Selby; Sens. Sokola, Huxtable, Pettyjohn, Wilson           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 161       RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024 AS GLUTEN-FREE DIET AWARENESS MONTH.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. K. Johnson & Rep. S. Moore & Sen. Pinkney       Reps. Bolden, Parker Selby; Sens. Sokola, Huxtable, Pettyjohn, Wilson     

SPONSOR: Rep. K. Johnson & Rep. S. Moore & Sen. Pinkney
Reps. Bolden, Parker Selby; Sens. Sokola, Huxtable, Pettyjohn, Wilson

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. K. Johnson & Rep. S. Moore & Sen. Pinkney 

 Reps. Bolden, Parker Selby; Sens. Sokola, Huxtable, Pettyjohn, Wilson 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 161 

   

 RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024 AS GLUTEN-FREE DIET AWARENESS MONTH. 

   

   WHEREAS,  the month of November 2024 is recognized as Gluten-free Diet Awareness Month; and     WHEREAS,  it is important to recognize the retailers, restaurants, and community members that support celiac   disease and gluten-free communities; and     WHEREAS,  supporting gluten-free diets and gluten-free environments helps thousands of families across the   country eat safely; and    WHEREAS, a gluten-free diet excludes any foods that contain gluten; and     WHEREAS, gluten is a protein found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye, and is common in foods such as bread,   pasta, cookies, and cakes, and many products contain gluten, such as prepackaged foods, lip balms and lipsticks,   toothpastes, vitamins, and nutrient supplements, and, rarely, medicines; and     WHEREAS, a gluten-free diet consists of eating only whole foods that dont contain gluten, such as fruits,   vegetables, meat, and eggs, as well as processed gluten-free foods like gluten-free bread or pasta; and    WHEREAS, the purpose of a gluten-free diet is to treat celiac disease; and     WHEREAS, celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten leads to damaging the   small intestine; and     WHEREAS, people who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, which causes inflammation in their small   intestines, and if they follow a gluten-free meal plan, they can eliminate some of their symptoms; and    WHEREAS, celiac disease can develop at any age after people start consuming gluten and when it is left untreated it can lead to additional serious health problems; and    WHEREAS, 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected by celiac disease; and    WHEREAS, only about 30% of people with celiac disease are properly diagnosed; and    WHEREAS, people with celiac disease are at risk of malnutrition, anemia (a decreased number of red blood cells due to lack of iron), and osteoporosis (weakened bones from lack of calcium); and    WHEREAS, celiac disease is often referred to as an invisible disability; and    WHEREAS, individuals with celiac disease have different needs and because of these special needs, celiac disease is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and    WHEREAS, this designation is particularly relevant in certain public settings such as schools that receive federal funds; and    WHEREAS, the law requires that these schools remove barriers to learning, which include accommodating a childs gluten-free diet and disability needs; and    WHEREAS, other conditions may also prompt someone to cut gluten from their diets such as a wheat allergy, a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten intolerance; and    WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month and reaffirms the significance of maintaining gluten-free services and accommodations that play a central role in protecting Delawareans living with celiac disease and those that support them.    NOW, THEREFORE:     BE IT RESOLVED by the Delaware House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that November 2024 is hereby recognized as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware.      

  WHEREAS,  the month of November 2024 is recognized as Gluten-free Diet Awareness Month; and 

   WHEREAS,  it is important to recognize the retailers, restaurants, and community members that support celiac   disease and gluten-free communities; and 

   WHEREAS,  supporting gluten-free diets and gluten-free environments helps thousands of families across the   country eat safely; and 

  WHEREAS, a gluten-free diet excludes any foods that contain gluten; and 

   WHEREAS, gluten is a protein found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye, and is common in foods such as bread,   pasta, cookies, and cakes, and many products contain gluten, such as prepackaged foods, lip balms and lipsticks,   toothpastes, vitamins, and nutrient supplements, and, rarely, medicines; and 

   WHEREAS, a gluten-free diet consists of eating only whole foods that dont contain gluten, such as fruits,   vegetables, meat, and eggs, as well as processed gluten-free foods like gluten-free bread or pasta; and 

  WHEREAS, the purpose of a gluten-free diet is to treat celiac disease; and 

   WHEREAS, celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten leads to damaging the   small intestine; and 

   WHEREAS, people who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, which causes inflammation in their small   intestines, and if they follow a gluten-free meal plan, they can eliminate some of their symptoms; and 

  WHEREAS, celiac disease can develop at any age after people start consuming gluten and when it is left untreated it can lead to additional serious health problems; and 

  WHEREAS, 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected by celiac disease; and 

  WHEREAS, only about 30% of people with celiac disease are properly diagnosed; and 

  WHEREAS, people with celiac disease are at risk of malnutrition, anemia (a decreased number of red blood cells due to lack of iron), and osteoporosis (weakened bones from lack of calcium); and 

  WHEREAS, celiac disease is often referred to as an invisible disability; and 

  WHEREAS, individuals with celiac disease have different needs and because of these special needs, celiac disease is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and 

  WHEREAS, this designation is particularly relevant in certain public settings such as schools that receive federal funds; and 

  WHEREAS, the law requires that these schools remove barriers to learning, which include accommodating a childs gluten-free diet and disability needs; and 

  WHEREAS, other conditions may also prompt someone to cut gluten from their diets such as a wheat allergy, a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten intolerance; and 

  WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month and reaffirms the significance of maintaining gluten-free services and accommodations that play a central role in protecting Delawareans living with celiac disease and those that support them. 

  NOW, THEREFORE:  

  BE IT RESOLVED by the Delaware House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that November 2024 is hereby recognized as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This resolution recognizes November 2024 as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware.      

 SYNOPSIS 

 This resolution recognizes November 2024 as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware.