SJ0027 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0027 LRB099 12405 GRL 35667 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as "CF", is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States and nearly 70,000 children and adults worldwide, 1,047 of whom live in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs; these secretions produce life-threatening lung infections and obstruct the pancreas, 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 cystic fibrosis gene; cystic fibrosis 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 cystic fibrosis is 41.1 years; and

WHEREAS, With advances in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, the number of adults with cystic fibrosis has steadily grown, and approximately 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 50% of the cystic fibrosis population is 18 years of age and older; people with cystic fibrosis have a variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800 mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene; and

WHEREAS, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects is the most reliable and least costly method to identify persons likely to have cystic fibrosis; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis permits early treatment and enhances quality of life and longevity; the treatment of cystic fibrosis depends on the stage of the disease and the organs involved; and

WHEREAS, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the daily cystic fibrosis treatment regimen; other types of treatments include inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic enzymes, among others; and

WHEREAS, There are 15 world-class treatment centers in Illinois that specialize in the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and the care of persons with cystic fibrosis; and

WHEREAS, A critical component of treating patients with cystic fibrosis includes access to innovative treatments, which can play a crucial role in the lives of patients with cystic fibrosis; and

WHEREAS, Improving the length and quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis starts with awareness; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the month of May in 2015 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.