A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Awareness Day".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 499 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 499

 Supporting the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) 
                            Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 2025

 Mr. Husted submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal brain disorder within a 
        group of illnesses called prion diseases;
Whereas CJD occurs in approximately 1 to 2 individuals per 1,000,000 each year, 
        resulting in approximately 600 cases annually in the United States, 85 
        percent of which are designated as sporadic, with no known causes, while 
        10 to 15 percent are deemed genetic, and less than 1 percent are deemed 
        acquired;
Whereas, in the early stages of the disease, CJD patients may exhibit failing 
        memory, behavioral changes, impaired coordination, and visual 
        disturbances, and as the illness progresses mental deterioration becomes 
        more pronounced while involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of 
        extremities, and ultimately coma may occur;
Whereas CJD typically leads to death within a few months to 1 year following the 
        onset of symptoms;
Whereas CJD is responsible for 1 in every 6,000 deaths in the United States each 
        year;
Whereas comprehensive prion disease surveillance is critical in order to develop 
        more efficient detection methods and to determine whether humans can 
        acquire the disease through the consumption of prion-contaminated beef 
        (known to cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or ``mad cow'' 
        disease) or meat from cervids (deer, elk, and moose) affected by chronic 
        wasting disease (referred to in this preamble as ``CWD'');
Whereas CWD is a fatal condition in cervids, caused by misfolded prions, that 
        has been detected in cervids in more than 36 States and all 4 regions of 
        the United States;
Whereas monitoring the prevalence of prion diseases, including determining a 
        disease's incidence and whether it was acquired from animals or other 
        humans, is critical;
Whereas continued prion disease surveillance, particularly through examination 
        of postmortem human brain tissue, is imperative to evaluate whether CWD 
        has or can spread to humans;
Whereas the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center is the only 
        laboratory-based organization in the United States that monitors human 
        prion diseases, which is critical to protecting the public health of the 
        United States;
Whereas Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (referred to in this preamble 
        as ``ADRD'') research could benefit from the study of prion diseases, 
        like CJD;
Whereas caregiver and health-services research of ADRD should be applied to 
        prion diseases, like CJD, which share many of the same challenges;
Whereas the families and communities affected by CJD have compelling stories due 
        to the rarity and rapid effects of the disease;
Whereas, from the time of diagnosis, CJD presents unique challenges and burdens 
        for patients, their family members, and caregivers given the rapidly 
        progressive nature of this devastating disease; and
Whereas the establishment of November 12, 2025, as ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease 
        (CJD) Awareness Day'' would raise awareness about this rare, rapidly 
        progressive, and invariably fatal disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``Creutzfeldt-Jakob 
        Disease (CJD) Awareness Day''; and
            (2) recognizes the importance of raising awareness of this 
        rare brain disorder.
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