109TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION S. RES. 563

Designating September 13, 2006, as ‘‘National Celiac Disease Awareness
Day’’.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 8, 2006

Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. NELSON of Nebraska) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Designating September 13, 2006, as ‘‘National Celiac
Disease Awareness Day’’.

Whereas celiac disease affects 2,200,000 people in the United
States, including 1 in 133 healthy people;
Whereas celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a protein
found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley, as well as some
medicines and vitamins;
Whereas exposure to gluten damages the villi of the small intestine,
interfering with the absorption of nutrients in
food;
Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder and a malabsorption
disease;
Whereas celiac disease is a genetic disease, with 1 in 22 people
having a first-degree relative with celiac disease;
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•SRES 563 ATS
Whereas the average length of time it takes for a symptomatic
person to be diagnosed with celiac disease is 11
years;
Whereas celiac disease is often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed
due to the fact that symptoms can be attributed
to other conditions and many doctors are not very
knowledgeable about the disease;
Whereas, according to a study, 60 percent of children and 41
percent of adults diagnosed with celiac disease were
asymptomatic;
Whereas celiac disease is diagnosed through tests measuring
the blood for abnormally high levels of the antibodies of
immunoglobulin A, anti-tissue transglutaminase, and IgA
anti-endomysium antibodies;
Whereas celiac disease is treated by following a gluten-free
diet;
Whereas damage to the small intestine leads to an increased
risk for malnutrition, anemia, lymphoma and adenocarcinoma,
osteoporosis, miscarriage and congenital malformation,
and short stature;
Whereas celiac disease is linked to many autoimmune disorders,
including thyroid disease, systemic lupus
erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, liver disease, collagen
vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjo¬gren’s syndrome;
Whereas the connection between celiac disease and diet was
first established by Dr. Samuel Gee, who was born on
September 13, 1839; and
Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness
in the general public and the medical community of celiac
disease: Now, therefore, be it
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•SRES 563 ATS
Resolved, That the Senate— 1
(1) designates September 13, 2006, as ‘‘Na- 2
tional Celiac Disease Awareness Day’’; 3
(2) recognizes that all people of the United 4
States should become more informed and aware of 5
celiac disease; 6
(3) calls upon the people of the United States 7
to observe the date with appropriate ceremonies and 8
activities; and 9
(4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the 10
Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the 11
Celiac Sprue Association, the American Celiac Soci- 12
ety, the Celiac Disease Foundation, the Gluten Intol- 13
erance Group of North America, and the Oklahoma 14
Celiac Support Group. 15
®