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1 | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis is a non-contagious systemic disease | ||||||
3 | of unknown origin; it is commonly diagnosed with the detection | ||||||
4 | of inflamed, microscopic growths called granulomas that grow | ||||||
5 | and often affect the lungs, skin, eyes, and nervous system; and
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6 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis can affect any organ of the body and | ||||||
7 | more than one organ at any given time; and
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8 | WHEREAS, The inflammation of such vital organs may cause | ||||||
9 | seizures, blindness, disfiguring lesions, and heart failure; | ||||||
10 | and
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11 | WHEREAS, Some famous suffers of sarcoidosis include NBC | ||||||
12 | sportscaster Darrian Chapman, Hall of Fame athletes Bill | ||||||
13 | Russell and Reggie White, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and | ||||||
14 | comedian Bernie Mac, who passed away as a result of | ||||||
15 | sarcoidosis; many other celebrities have or have had | ||||||
16 | sarcoidosis; and
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17 | WHEREAS, Many individuals stricken with sarcoidosis | ||||||
18 | eventually develop a serious disability or a potentially fatal | ||||||
19 | condition; and
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20 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis was once thought to be an uncommon |
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1 | condition, but is now known to affect tens of thousands of | ||||||
2 | people throughout the United States; and
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3 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis afflicts African Americans up to 8 | ||||||
4 | times more frequently than other races; and
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5 | WHEREAS, As many people with Sarcoidosis have no symptoms, | ||||||
6 | it is difficult to measure how many people have the condition; | ||||||
7 | and
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8 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis is a disease that affects Americans | ||||||
9 | nationwide and people around the world, yet its causes and | ||||||
10 | potential treatments remain a mystery; and
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11 | WHEREAS, Skin-related symptoms of this chronic, | ||||||
12 | multi-systemic disease were first recognized more than 100 | ||||||
13 | years ago, but the effects of the disease on other organs were | ||||||
14 | not observed until recently; and | ||||||
15 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis was the chief diagnosis of the death | ||||||
16 | of fluorescent light bulb workers in Salem, Massachusetts in | ||||||
17 | the 1940s; and
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18 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis was the first diagnosis for an | ||||||
19 | overwhelming majority of rescue workers present at the World | ||||||
20 | Trade Center on September 11, 2001; and
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1 | WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis has been documented to be | ||||||
2 | disproportionately found among factory workers, Navy deck | ||||||
3 | grinders, and members of other military branches; and
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4 | WHEREAS, Today, researchers are still trying to learn more | ||||||
5 | about the causes, cures, and overall nature of sarcoidosis; and
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6 | WHEREAS, The American Lung Association, the National | ||||||
7 | Sarcoidosis Society, and the National Sarcoidosis Foundation | ||||||
8 | have actively advocated for more research to better understand | ||||||
9 | how environmental and occupational exposures may increase the | ||||||
10 | risk of sarcoidosis; and | ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, The National Sarcoidosis Society's Chicago | ||||||
12 | Headquarters and the National Sarcoidosis Foundation strive to | ||||||
13 | serve those afflicted by the disease by focusing efforts on | ||||||
14 | public policy, research, funding, patient services, support | ||||||
15 | group meet, public awareness, education, and finding a cure; | ||||||
16 | and | ||||||
17 | WHEREAS, It would be fitting to designate the month of | ||||||
18 | April 2015 as Illinois Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, a month | ||||||
19 | with worldwide events to increase public awareness of the need | ||||||
20 | to support individuals with sarcoidosis, educate others on the | ||||||
21 | environmental and occupational issues associated with |
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1 | sarcoidosis, and educate medical and professionals who care for | ||||||
2 | individuals with sarcoidosis; therefore, be it
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3 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
4 | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | ||||||
5 | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the month of April | ||||||
6 | 2015 as Illinois Sarcoidosis Awareness Month in the State of | ||||||
7 | Illinois and show our support for the goals and ideals of | ||||||
8 | National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month; and be it further
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9 | RESOLVED, That we encourage the federal government and the | ||||||
10 | other 49 states to show their support of the goals and ideals | ||||||
11 | of National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month; and be it further | ||||||
12 | RESOLVED, That we recognize sarcoidosis' prominent yet | ||||||
13 | hidden role in America's workforce history and acknowledge the | ||||||
14 | diligent efforts of individuals and organizations who observe | ||||||
15 | National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, and show our support for | ||||||
16 | research efforts to better understand the link between | ||||||
17 | sarcoidosis and specific occupations where sarcoidosis is | ||||||
18 | disproportionately represented.
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