Reps. Sarah Roberts, Yanez, Faris, Canfield, Bizon, Howrylak, Inman, Darany, Greig, Cochran, Hughes, LaVoy, Moss, Pagan and Schor offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 231.

            A resolution to declare February 29, 2016, as Rare Disease Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, There are nearly 7,000 diseases and conditions considered rare (each affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans) in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and

            Whereas, While each of these diseases may affect small numbers of people, rare diseases as a group affect almost 30 million Americans; and

            Whereas, While more than 450 drugs and biologics have been approved for the treatment of rare diseases according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), millions of Americans still have rare diseases for which there is no approved treatment; and

            Whereas, Individuals and families affected by rare diseases often experience problems such as diagnosis delay, difficulty finding a medical expert, and lack of access to treatments or ancillary services; and

            Whereas, While the public is familiar with some rare diseases, many patients and families affected by less widely known rare diseases bear a large share of the burden of funding research and raising public awareness to support the search for treatments; and

            Whereas, According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, nearly one in 10 Americans have rare diseases, two-thirds of which are children; and

            Whereas, The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is organizing a nationwide observance of Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2016; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, that the members of this legislative body declare February 29, 2016, as Rare Disease Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.