2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 104
BY SENATOR MILLS
A RESOLUTION
To designate the month of May 2016 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, cystic fibrosis, known as CF, affects cells that produce mucus,
perspiration and digestive juices in the human body; and
WHEREAS, these normally thin, slippery fluids are rendered thick and sticky and
rather than acting as lubricants the cells affected by CF plug tubes, ducts and passageways,
especially in the lungs and pancreas; and
WHEREAS, CF affects roughly seventy thousand people around the world and thirty
thousand of those adults and children live in the United States; and
WHEREAS, advances in treatment and improvements leading to earlier detection of
this disease have led to people living longer with CF and increasing the population suffering
from this debilitating condition; and
WHEREAS, throughout the world, more than half of those living with CF are
children and one thousand new cases of this disabling condition are diagnosed each year; and
WHEREAS, CF is a genetic defect and in order for a child to have CF, both parents
must carry the defective gene, which is recessive, and pass those flawed genes on to the child
in order for the disease to manifest in the child; and
WHEREAS, CF causes progressive damage to the respiratory system and chronic
digestive system problems are among the most common manifestations of CF; and
WHEREAS, respiratory damage is caused by mucus build-up in the lungs, bacterial
infections and eventually leads to permanent lung damage, including the formation of scar
tissue or fibrosis which impedes the ability of the lungs to inflate and deflate; and
WHEREAS, CF affects a specific protein called cystic fibrosis trans-membrane
regulator that controls the normal movement of sodium chloride, as well as water, in and out
of cells throughout the body; and
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WHEREAS, the affect of CF on the pancreas causes the ducts to become blocked,
causing fibrosis of the pancreas which causes reduced absorption of fat and vitamins and can
result in "cystic fibrosis-related diabetes"; and
WHEREAS, almost half of all those affected with CF today are over eighteen years
of age; 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 the life
expectancy as well as improving the quality of life of those living with CF; and
WHEREAS, the average life expectancy of those with CF has been steadily
increasing since the 1950s and is currently nearly forty years; and
WHEREAS, a critical component of treating patients with CF includes access to
innovative treatments which can effect both longevity and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, improving both length and quality of life for people with CF begins
with both earlier diagnosis and a greater awareness of the disease and its consequences.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby designate the month of May 2016 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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