Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0468

HR0468 LRB104 15327 ECR 28481 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health reports that an estimated 105,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), a rare, chronic autoimmune disease that damages the bile ducts in the liver, leading to scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure, or the need for transplantation if left untreated; and

WHEREAS, More than 130,000 Americans, including approximately 4,000 Illinois residents, are estimated to be living with PBC; women are disproportionately affected by PBC, making up 90% of cases, and are often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60; and

WHEREAS, While advances in treatment now enable many people with PBC to achieve a normal life expectancy, the disease continues to cause significant fatigue, itchiness, and other symptoms that severely impact quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Early detection and timely referral to specialists remain essential to effective treatment and management of PBC, yet many patients face delays in diagnosis and limited access to knowledgeable care; and

WHEREAS, The Friends of the PBC Foundation, NFP, in partnership with the international PBC Foundation and patient advocacy groups worldwide, provides education, peer support, and advocacy to ensure no one living with PBC feels alone; and

WHEREAS, The Friends of the PBC Foundation's theme for the 2025 PBC Awareness campaign, "You Are Not Alone", reflects the global commitment to building community, supporting patients, and accelerating research toward improved treatments and, ultimately, a cure for PBC; and

WHEREAS, September has been designated as PBC Awareness Month, with International PBC Day being observed on Sunday, September 14, 2025, culminating with the U.S. PBC Patient Conference being held in Chicago from September 19 through September 21, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Raising public awareness of PBC will encourage earlier diagnosis, increase understanding of the daily challenges faced by those affected, and strengthen support for research, education, and a public health registry; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September 2025 as Primary Biliary Cholangitis Awareness Month in the State of Illinois, and we call upon Illinois residents, health professionals, and community leaders to join in supporting education, advocacy, and solidarity for all those living with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC).