Expressing support for the designation of Undiagnosed Awareness Month.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1223
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:07:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1223) expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating April as Undiagnosed Awareness Month and April 29th as Undiagnosed Day. It aims to raise public awareness about the challenges faced by people with rare and undiagnosed diseases.
Key Provisions
- Background and "Whereas" Clauses: Highlights key facts, including:
- About 25 million Americans live with rare or undiagnosed diseases, many undiagnosed for years or lifelong.
- "Undiagnosed" means a condition not identified despite extensive testing and specialist consultations.
- Patients face delays (average 7+ years for rare diseases), misdiagnoses, emotional distress, and financial burdens.
- Establishment of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) in 2015 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has diagnosed over 1,000 people and identified 90+ new conditions using genomics, AI, and a network of 24 clinical sites.
- Role of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation (UDNF), a patient-led nonprofit supporting diagnosis, research, and care.
- NIH's 2026 budget goal to expand UDN capacity by 2027 for broader access.
- Resolved Clause: The House supports the ideals and goals of Undiagnosed Awareness Month, honoring patients, families, clinicians, and researchers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is a non-binding resolution that does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It serves as a symbolic statement of support.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Increases public awareness, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and encouraging medical education for equitable access to tools like genomic sequencing.
- On Government Agencies: Encourages NIH and UDN expansion but imposes no mandates or funding requirements.
- On International Relations: No impact.
- Overall, fosters innovation in diagnostics without enforceable changes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Patients and Families: Those with undiagnosed or rare diseases (e.g., 25 million Americans).
- Healthcare Providers: Clinicians and specialists dealing with complex cases.
- Researchers and Organizations: UDN, UDNF, and NIH, whose work is highlighted and championed.
- General Public: Through heightened awareness of medical mysteries.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Purely symbolic; lacks force of law and does not require action.
- Constitutional: No issues; resolutions like this are standard congressional tools for expressing sentiment (Article I, Section 5 allows each chamber to determine its rules).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., Mr. Pocan, Mr. Cline) signals broad support; referred to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for review, potentially aiding future funding or policy advocacy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-04-28: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of Undiagnosed Awareness Month. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)