HLS 21RS-2601 ORIGINAL 2021 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 89 BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates May 2021 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in Louisiana 1 A RESOLUTION 2To designate the month of May 2021 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in Louisiana. 3 WHEREAS, cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as CF, is a genetic disease that 4affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States, approximately 350 5of whom live in Louisiana, and nearly 70,000 children and adults worldwide; and 6 WHEREAS, in the case of CF, a defective gene causes the body to produce an 7abnormally thick and sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, and these secretions produce life- 8threatening lung infections and obstruct the pancreas, thereby preventing digestive enzymes 9from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food; and 10 WHEREAS, more than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the 11defective CF gene, and CF occurs in approximately one of every 3,500 live births in the 12United States; and 13 WHEREAS, the median age of survival for a person with CF is 46 years; and 14 WHEREAS, with advances in the treatment of CF, the number of adults living with 15CF has steadily grown, and approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year; 16and 17 WHEREAS, 56% of persons with CF are 18 years of age and older, and people with 18CF have a variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,700 mutations of the CF gene; 19and 20 WHEREAS, the most reliable and least costly method to identify persons likely to 21have CF is an infant blood screening to detect genetic defects; and Page 1 of 2 HLS 21RS-2601 ORIGINAL HR NO. 89 1 WHEREAS, early diagnosis of CF permits early treatment and enhances quality of 2life and longevity; and 3 WHEREAS, the treatment of CF depends on the stage of the disease and the organs 4involved; and 5 WHEREAS, clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the daily CF 6treatment regimen, and other types of treatments include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic 7enzymes, among others; and 8 WHEREAS, there are four world-class treatment centers in Louisiana which 9specialize in the diagnosis of CF and the care of persons with CF; and 10 WHEREAS, a critical component of treating patients with CF includes access to 11innovative treatments, which can play a crucial role in the lives of patients with CF; and 12 WHEREAS, improving the length and quality of life for people with CF starts with 13increasing awareness. 14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the 15Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate May 2021 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness 16Month in Louisiana and does hereby encourage all citizens of the state of Louisiana to raise 17awareness of this debilitating disease. 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 89 Original 2021 Regular Session Bagley Designates the month of May 2021 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in La. Page 2 of 2