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