HLS 19RS-2366 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes May 1-10, 2019, as Cri du Chat Awareness
Week
1 A RESOLUTION
2To recognize May 1 through 10, 2019, as Cri du Chat Awareness Week.
3 WHEREAS, each year, approximately fifty to sixty children are born with 5p- (five
4p minus) syndrome in the United States, a syndrome that is otherwise known as cat cry
5syndrome or cri du chat syndrome; and
6 WHEREAS, the syndrome is sometimes called 5p- syndrome because people who
7are diagnosed with it are missing a portion of chromosome number five, a portion that is
8called 5p by geneticists; and
9 WHEREAS, at birth, some common characteristics of cri du chat syndrome are a
10high pitched cry, low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly, and other potential
11medical complications; and
12 WHEREAS, children born with this rare genetic defect will most likely require
13ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, and medical and educational
14professionals to help them to achieve their maximum potential; and
15 WHEREAS, there are many families in Louisiana that include a child with cri du
16chat syndrome, and there are more than one thousand such families in the country; and
17 WHEREAS, individuals with cri du chat syndrome deserve to be recognized for what
18they can do rather than for what they cannot do; and
19 WHEREAS, because cri du chat syndrome is not well-known, it is necessary to raise
20awareness about the effects of this syndrome on children and their families; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 19RS-2366 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 137
1 WHEREAS, one of the goals of Cri du Chat Awareness Week is to provide people
2with accurate information about cri du chat syndrome, especially families who have a child
3that has been diagnosed with this syndrome.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize May 1 through 10, 2019, as Cri du Chat
6Awareness Week and does hereby encourage all citizens of the great state of Louisiana to
7raise awareness about cri du chat syndrome and to advocate for policies that assist persons
8who are diagnosed with this syndrome and the families that care for them.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 137 Original 2019 Regular Session James
Recognizes May 1-10, 2019, as Cri du Chat Awareness Week.
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