1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 SCR 7
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5 By: Senator F. Love
6 By: Representative T. Shephard
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8 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
9 TO DESIGNATE MARCH 2023 AS RARE KIDNEY DISEASE
10 AWARENESS MONTH IN ARKANSAS TO INCREASE PUBLIC
11 AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENETIC CAUSES OF
12 RARE KIDNEY DISEASE.
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15 Subtitle
16 TO DESIGNATE MARCH 2023 AS RARE KIDNEY
17 DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH IN ARKANSAS TO
18 INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
19 UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENETIC CAUSES OF
20 RARE KIDNEY DISEASE.
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22 WHEREAS, March is nationally recognized as National Kidney Month and
23 this recognition is an important opportunity to raise public awareness and
24 understanding of rare kidney diseases, such as APOLI-mediated kidney disease;
25 and
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27 WHEREAS, APOL1 genetic variants account for much of the excess risk of
28 chronic and end-stage kidney disease for persons of African ancestry,
29 including people of African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin descent; and
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31 WHEREAS, APOL1 explains the disproportionate rate of kidney disease in
32 people of African ancestry as African Americans make up thirteen percent
33 (13%) of the United States population, but account for thirty-two percent
34 (32%) of all kidney failure and thirty-five percent (35%) of all end stage
35 kidney disease; and
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 SCR7
1 WHEREAS, African Americans are four (4) times more likely to develop
2 kidney failure than White Americans; and
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4 WHEREAS, APOLI-mediated kidney disease is driven by genetic factors and
5 is underdiagnosed; and
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7 WHEREAS, symptoms do not present until kidney damage is advanced and
8 symptoms include fatigue, swelling in the legs and feet, and weight gain; and
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10 WHEREAS, increasing public awareness and understanding of the genetic
11 causes of rare kidney disease could lead to early diagnosis and care for some
12 of the most vulnerable populations and empower and educate those at risk on
13 how they can manage it,
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15 NOW THEREFORE,
16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
17 STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
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19 THAT the Senate, with the House of Representatives concurring,
20 designate March 2023 as Rare Kidney Disease Awareness Month in Arkansas.
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