U.S. Passes National PKD Awareness Week Resultion

(Kansas City, MO) September 7, 2007— The U.S. Senate passed on Sept. 7 a national PKD Awareness Week Resolution (S.Res. 282) to help educate the public about PKD and promote Walk for PKD events that will occur in more than 70 communities across the country during the third weekend in September. The resolution was sponsored by Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

“This ‘PKD Awareness Week’ resolution in the Senate will draw national attention to the plight of American families living with Polycystic Kidney Disease,” said Dan Larson, President and CEO. “It is a very important part of our mission to inform Congress and the public about PKD, encourage their participation in the Walk for PKD, and spur Congressional action toward policies that support clinical research and prevent genetic discrimination.”

This marks the second consecutive year the U.S. Senate has approved a PKD Awareness Week resolution. The 2006 resolution was also sponsored by Kohl.

From Arizona to Kansas City, PKD Foundation volunteers have been successful in prompting their local elected officials to issue “PKD Awareness Week” resolutions or proclamations. The following is a list of states, cities and counties that have pass resolutions and proclamations in 2007:

U.S. Senate, S.Res. 282, National PKD Awareness Week Resolution
Colorado Legislature (State Resolution)
Texas Legislature (State Resolution)
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (State Proclamation)
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (State Prolamation)
City of Kansas City, MO (Mayoral Proclamation by Mark Funkhouser)
City of Germantown, TN (Mayoral Proclamation)
City of Longview, TX (Mayoral Proclamation)
City of San Diego, CA (Mayoral Proclamation by Jerry Sanders)
City of Erie, PA (Mayoral Proclamation by Joseph Sinnott)
Shelby County, TN (Mayoral Proclamation by A.C. Wharton)