SJ0046LRB097 20181 RPM 65590 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, An estimated 4,000,000 individuals in the United
3States are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 75%
4of these individuals are unaware they are infected; and
 
5    WHEREAS, HCV is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver
6failure and the most common reason for liver transplantation in
7the United States; and
 
8    WHEREAS, HCV is 4 times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS and
9led to more than 15,000 deaths in the United States in 2007;
10350,000 people die each year due to hepatitis C-related liver
11disease worldwide; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Two of every 3 people with chronic hepatitis C in
13this country are baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965 who
14were infected decades ago; and
 
15    WHEREAS, HCV disproportionately affects minorities;
16African Americans, who make up 14% of the population, account
17for 22% of HCV cases in the U.S.; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Hispanic community also bears a heavier
19burden; chronic HCV is more aggressive and carries a higher
20risk of cirrhosis for Hispanics than for any other ethnic

 

 

SJ0046- 2 -LRB097 20181 RPM 65590 r

1group; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The costs for HCV patients are projected to more
3than double over the next 20 years, from $30,000,000,000 to
4$85,000,000,000 per year; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
7CONCURRING HEREIN, that, due to the prevalence and highly
8communicable nature of hepatitis, we urge the 112th Congress of
9the United States to enact the federal Viral Hepatitis Testing
10Act of 2011 in order to:
11        (1) authorize testing programs with the goal of making
12    75% of infected people aware of their status by 2016;
13        (2) authorize the development and distribution of
14    public information about viral hepatitis detection and the
15    control of infections;
16        (3) authorize better coordination of medical treatment
17    and counseling so that infected people have access to the
18    best services; and
19        (4) improve the education, training, and skills of
20    health professionals in the detection and control of viral
21    hepatitis infections; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
23delivered to members of the Illinois congressional delegation.