Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Hocker & Rep. Gray & Rep. Longhurst & Rep. Ramone & Rep. Wilson-Anton
Sens. Gay, Hansen, Lopez, Pettyjohn, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Briggs King, Bush, K. Johnson, Kowalko, Lambert, Mitchell, Morrison, Osienski, Michael Smith

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13

RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 2021 AS "AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases are caused when your body’s immune system attacks your healthy tissues and are chronic, disabling diseases in which underlying defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own organs and tissues; and

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life threatening; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases and many of them share similar symptoms; some diseases carry an increased likelihood of people having an additional or multiple autoimmune diseases; and

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates autoimmune diseases are among the most prevalent diseases in the U.S., affecting more than 24 million Americans and that the prevalence is rising; and

WHEREAS, according to NIH, autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in female children and women in all age groups up to 64 years of age; and

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine reports that the United States is behind other countries in research into immune system self-recognition, the process involved in autoimmune disease; and

WHEREAS, diagnostic testing for most autoimmune diseases are not standardized, making autoimmune disease very difficult to diagnose; and

WHEREAS, NIH estimates annual direct health care costs for autoimmune disease to be in the range of $100 billion; and

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for research focusing on the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases, in order to increase understanding of the root causes of these diseases rather than treating the systems after the disease has already had its destructive effect; and

WHEREAS, designating November 2021 as “Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware would help educate the public about autoimmune diseases and the need for research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that November 2021 is recognized as “Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware.