[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 821 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 821

 Supporting the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) 
                            Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2023

Mr. Valadao (for himself, Mr. Costa, Ms. Brown, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Joyce 
 of Ohio, and Mr. McCarthy) submitted the following resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (referred to in this resolution as ``CJD'') is 
        a rare, fatal brain disorder within a group of illnesses called prion 
        diseases;
Whereas CJD occurs in approximately 1 to 2 cases per million individuals each 
        year, resulting in approximately 500 cases annually in the United 
        States, 85 percent of which are designated as sporadic, with no known 
        causes, while 10 to 15 percent are deemed genetic and fewer than 1 
        percent are deemed acquired;
Whereas, in the early stages of the disease, CJD patients may exhibit failing 
        memory, behavioral changes, impaired coordination, and visual 
        disturbances, and as the illness progresses, and mental deterioration 
        becomes more pronounced while involuntary movements, blindness, weakness 
        of extremities, and ultimately coma may occur;
Whereas CJD typically leads to death within a few months to 1 year following the 
        onset of symptoms;
Whereas comprehensive prion disease surveillance is critical in order to develop 
        more efficient detection methods, and to determine whether humans can 
        acquire the disease through the consumption of prion contaminated beef 
        (known to cause Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or ``mad cow'' 
        disease) or meat from elk and deer affected by Chronic Wasting Disease 
        (CWD);
Whereas continued prion disease surveillance, particularly through examination 
        of postmortem human brain tissue, is imperative to evaluate whether CWD 
        has or can spread to humans;
Whereas Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) research could benefit 
        from the study of prion diseases, like CJD;
Whereas caregiver and health services research of ADRD should be applied to 
        prion diseases, like CJD, which shares many of the same challenges;
Whereas the families and communities affected by CJD have a compelling story due 
        to the rarity and rapid effects of the disease;
Whereas from the time of diagnosis CJD presents unique challenges and burdens 
        for patients, their family members and caregivers given the rapidly 
        progressive nature of this devastating disease; and
Whereas the establishment of November 12, 2023, as ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease 
        (CJD) Awareness Day'' would raise awareness about this rare, rapidly 
        progressive, and invariably fatal disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob 
        Disease (CJD) Awareness Day''; and
            (2) recognizes the importance of raising awareness of this 
        rare brain disorder.
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