HR 50: | Digital Democracy

WHEREAS, Lupus is a disease that affects more people than AIDS, cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia, and multiple sclerosis combined. One of out every 185 Americans has lupus. Lupus is hard to diagnose, mimics other diseases, and its sufferers usually do not get treatment until they have suffered with the symptoms for many years; and

WHEREAS, Lupus affects approximately 1.4 million Americans, 90 percent of people diagnosed with the disease are women, 80 percent develop the disease between 15 and 45 years of age, and the disease is two to three times more prevalent among people of color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans; and

WHEREAS, Understanding lupus will help us better understand infections in general, allergies, cancer, and even AIDS. Medical students are often told if they know lupus then they know medicine; lupus is the paradigm of autoimmunity, as lupus can affect every part of the body; and

WHEREAS, At least nine states have declared the month of May as Lupus Awareness Month California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body, including internal organs, the skin, and joints. The disease also has many different symptoms and, because of that, affects each person differently. Because of its unpredictable nature, people with lupus often have many questions about the disease; and

WHEREAS, Each person with lupus has different symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time. Lupus is not to be taken lightly; it can affect many parts of the body, including, but not limited to, the kidneys, lungs, central nervous system, blood vessels, blood, heart, and skin; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Public Health concluded in its 2008 Lupus Data/Statistics report that death rates from lupus increased nearly 70 percent among black women between 45 and 64 years of age. Possible reasons include an increasing incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus, later diagnosis, less access to health care, less-effective treatments, and poorer compliance with treatment recommendations. Each year during the study period, death rates were more than five times higher for women than for men; and

WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about lupus in California remain inadequately disseminated and insufficient in addressing the needs of specific diverse populations and other underserved groups; and

WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the benefit of all residents of the State of California; and

WHEREAS, Many other organizations strive to educate the community about lupus and how to manage the disease and also to bring more awareness through advocacy and education while providing support and resources to families that are affected by the disease; and

WHEREAS, Advocates around the country have joined together to advocate for lupus awareness, support, and a better future through research, diagnosis, education, and treatment; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly observes the month of May 2016 as Lupus Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Lupus is a disease that affects more people than AIDS, cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia, and multiple sclerosis combined. One of out every 185 Americans has lupus. Lupus is hard to diagnose, mimics other diseases, and its sufferers usually do not get treatment until they have suffered with the symptoms for many years; and

WHEREAS, Lupus affects approximately 1.4 million Americans, 90 percent of people diagnosed with the disease are women, 80 percent develop the disease between 15 and 45 years of age, and the disease is two to three times more prevalent among people of color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans; and

WHEREAS, Understanding lupus will help us better understand infections in general, allergies, cancer, and even AIDS. Medical students are often told if they know lupus then they know medicine; lupus is the paradigm of autoimmunity, as lupus can affect every part of the body; and

WHEREAS, At least nine states have declared the month of May as Lupus Awareness Month California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body, including internal organs, the skin, and joints. The disease also has many different symptoms and, because of that, affects each person differently. Because of its unpredictable nature, people with lupus often have many questions about the disease; and

WHEREAS, Each person with lupus has different symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time. Lupus is not to be taken lightly; it can affect many parts of the body, including, but not limited to, the kidneys, lungs, central nervous system, blood vessels, blood, heart, and skin; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Care Services Public Health concluded in its 2008 Lupus Data/Statistics report that death rates from lupus increased nearly 70 percent among black women between 45 and 64 years of age. Possible reasons include an increasing incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus, later diagnosis, less access to health care, less-effective treatments, and poorer compliance with treatment recommendations. Each year during the study period, death rates were more than five times higher for women than for men; and