Substitute for House Resolution No 104. 

A resolution to declare July 22, 2015 as Fragile X Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Fragile X is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and is the most common known genetic cause of autism/autism spectrum disorder.

            Whereas, One in every 151 women and 1 in 468 men are carriers of a Fragile X mutation and can pass the mutation to their offspring; and

            Whereas, One in every 4,000 boys and 1 in 6,000 girls are born with Fragile X. Most children with Fragile X typically require a lifetime of special care which could cost over $2,000,000; and

            Whereas, Nearly 1.5 million Americans are living with the health impacts of a Fragile X mutation; and

            Whereas, Fragile X remains frequently undiagnosed until puberty; and

            Whereas, The genetic mutation causing Fragile X has been studied, and is easily identified by testing; and

            Whereas, The Fragile X protein also plays a critical role in normal brain function and in other neuropsychiatric conditions including autism, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, clinical depression  and other forms of X-linked cognitive impairment; and

            Whereas, The study of Fragile X provides a unique research opportunity for advancing the understanding of these other neuropsychiatric conditions; and

            Whereas, With concerted research efforts, a targeted treatment for Fragile X will likely be developed; and

            Whereas, Fragile X research has been vastly underfunded despite the prevalence of the condition, the great potential for the development of targeted treatments, and the significance that Fragile X research has for related disorders; and

            Whereas, The U.S. Congress has designated July 22 as “National Fragile X Awareness Day”; and

            Whereas, The House of Representatives of the state of Michigan as an institution and members of the Michigan Legislature as individuals are in unique positions to help raise public awareness about the need for increased funding for research, early diagnosis and treatment for the condition known as Fragile X; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare July 22, 2015, as Fragile X Awareness Day in the state of Michigan