A resolution designating September 4, 2020, as "National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day", and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 696 Designating September 4, 2020, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating September 4, 2020, as ‘‘National Polycystic Kid- ney Disease Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease. Whereas designating September 4, 2020, as ‘‘National Poly- cystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’ will raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney dis- ease, one of the most prevalent genetic kidney disorders, which affects approximately 500,000 people in the United States; Whereas National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day will help to foster an understanding of the impact poly- cystic kidney disease has on individuals and their fami- lies; VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:29 Sep 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR696.ATS SR696 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 696 ATS Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a progressive, genetic disorder of the kidneys that causes damage to the kid- neys and the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gas- trointestinal organ systems; Whereas polycystic kidney disease affects the health and fi- nances of individuals, and equally affects individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexes; Whereas, of the individuals diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, approximately 10 percent have no family history of the disease, with the disease developing as a sponta- neous mutation; Whereas there are very few treatments and no cure for poly- cystic kidney disease, which is 1 of the 4 leading causes of kidney failure in the United States; Whereas almost 50 percent of individuals with polycystic kid- ney disease experience kidney failure by age 60; Whereas friends, loved ones, spouses, and caregivers of indi- viduals with polycystic kidney disease can assist with the challenges created by polycystic kidney disease, including by helping such individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle and make regular visits to their health care providers; Whereas the severity of the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease and limited public awareness of the disease may cause individuals to forego regular visits to their physi- cians or avoid following the health recommendations of their doctors, which experts suggest could help prevent further complications should kidney failure occur; Whereas individuals who have chronic, life-threatening dis- eases like polycystic kidney disease may experience de- pression; VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:29 Sep 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR696.ATS SR696 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 696 ATS Whereas the PKD Foundation and its more than 35,000 pa- tient and family advocates around the United States are dedicated to— (1) conducting research to find treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease; (2) fostering public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease; (3) educating individuals and their families about the disease to improve their treatment and care; and (4) providing support, including by sponsoring the annual ‘‘Walk for PKD’’, to raise funds for polycystic kidney disease research, education, advocacy, and aware- ness; and Whereas, on September 4, 2020, the PKD Foundation is partnering with sister organizations in Canada, Australia, and other countries to increase international awareness of polycystic kidney disease: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates September 4, 2020, as ‘‘National 2 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day’’; 3 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 4 Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day to raise 5 public awareness and understanding of polycystic 6 kidney disease; 7 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 8 to find a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and 9 (4) encourages all people in the United States 10 and interested groups to support National Polycystic 11 Kidney Awareness Day through appropriate cere- 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:29 Sep 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR696.ATS SR696 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 696 ATS monies and activities to promote public awareness of 1 polycystic kidney disease and to foster an under- 2 standing of the impact of the disease on individuals 3 and their families. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:29 Sep 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR696.ATS SR696 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS