2011
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 11-1019
       
       
       BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Gardner B., Conti, Court, Holbert,
       Hullinghorst, Joshi, Kerr A., Looper, McCann, Murray, Pace,
       Sonnenberg, Stephens, Swalm, Szabo, Williams A., Wilson, Acree,
       Balmer, Barker, Baumgardner, Becker, Beezley, Bradford, Brown,
       Casso, Coram, DelGrosso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fields, Fischer,
       Gardner D., Gerou, Hamner, Jones, Kagan, Kefalas, Kerr J.,
       Labuda, Lee, Levy, Massey, McKinley, Miklosi, Nikkel, Pabon,
       Peniston, Priola, Ramirez, Riesberg, Ryden, Schafer S., Scott,
       Solano, Soper, Summers, Swerdfeger, Todd, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil,
       Waller, McNulty;
       also SENATOR(S) Jahn, Bacon, Cadman, Grantham, King S.,
       Morse, Roberts, Tochtrop, White, Aguilar, Boyd, Carroll, Foster,
       Giron, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Hudak, Johnston, King K.,
       Kopp, Lambert, Lundberg, Mitchell, Newell, Nicholson, Renfroe,
       Scheffel, Schwartz, Spence, Steadman, Williams S..
       
       
          CONCERNING LUPUS AWARENESS, AND, IN
       CONNECTION THEREWITH, DESIGNATING MAY AS "LUPUS
       AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. 
       
       
          WHEREAS, An estimated 1.5 million Americans, including 24,177
       Coloradans, have been diagnosed with Lupus; and
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
          WHEREAS, Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the
       immune system does not function correctly, causing harm to tissue and
       organs in the body; and
       
          WHEREAS, Although Lupus can occur in men, women, and children,
       over 90% of people diagnosed with Lupus are women, and Lupus most
       often occurs in women of childbearing age, between 15 and 44 years of
       age; and
       
          WHEREAS, Although Lupus can occur in people of all races and
       ethnic groups, Lupus is two to three times more common among African
       Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and Pacific
       Islanders; and
       
          WHEREAS, The exact cause of Lupus is unknown, but it is believed
       that Lupus is likely a result of a combination of genetics and a person's
       environment; and
       
          WHEREAS, People with Lupus experience times of flare-ups, where
       symptoms worsen, and remissions, where symptoms improve; and
       
          WHEREAS, The wide-ranging symptoms and health consequences of
       Lupus vary in intensity and degree, range from mild to life-threatening,
       and include:  Skin rashes and lesions; sun or light sensitivity; extreme
       fatigue; painful or swollen joints, feet, legs, or hands; anemia and
       increased risk of blood clotting; increased risk of cardiovascular disease
       and heart attacks; organ failure; inflammation of the kidneys; for pregnant
       women, an increased risk of preeclampsia, miscarriage, and preterm birth;
       inflammation of the nervous system and the brain resulting in headaches,
       fevers, seizures, strokes, memory problems, confusion, or behavioral
       changes; and increased vulnerability to infections; and
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
          WHEREAS, The most common causes of death for people with Lupus
       are infection and kidney failure; and
       
          WHEREAS, Because many of the same symptoms of Lupus occur in
       other illnesses, a correct diagnosis of and treatment for Lupus can be
       delayed, and, for more than half of all people with Lupus, it takes four or
       more years and visiting three or more doctors before receiving a correct
       diagnosis; and
       
          WHEREAS, Currently there is no cure for Lupus, but it can be
       managed through treatment; however, drugs currently used to treat Lupus
       can cause harmful side effects; and
       
          WHEREAS, Major gaps still exist in understanding the causes and
       health consequences of Lupus; and
       
          WHEREAS, Each year, May 10 is designated as "World Lupus Day";
       now, therefore,
       
          Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-eighth
       General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
       
          That the General Assembly hereby:
       
          (1)  Proclaims May as "Lupus Awareness Month" in the state of
       Colorado; and
       
          (2)  Urges the citizens of this state to educate themselves on the
       symptoms and impact of Lupus and to support programs of research,
       education, and community service.
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
          Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to
       the Lupus Foundation of Colorado.
       
       
       
       
       
       ________________________________________________________
       Frank McNulty                    Brandon C. Shaffer 
       SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                    PRESIDENT OF
       OF REPRESENTATIVES                        THE SENATE
       
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Marilyn Eddins                        Cindi Markwell
       CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                SECRETARY OF
       OF REPRESENTATIVES                        THE SENATE