Public Law 98–56

Joint Resolution

Designating “National Reye’s Syndrome Week”.

Whereas Reye’s syndrome is a disease of unknown cause which normally attacks healthy children eighteen years of age and under, both male and female, which can kill or cripple more than half of its victims within several days by attacking the muscles, liver, brain, and kidneys, and which affects every organ in the body;

Whereas Reye’s syndrome is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration to be one of the top ten killers among all children’s diseases;

Whereas Reye’s syndrome was first recognized as a specific illness in 1963 and is a new illness in name only since children have been affected for decades by the illness and Reye’s syndrome cases have been improperly diagnosed;

Whereas the reporting of cases of Reye’s syndrome is required in only one-half of the States (for the purpose of this joint resolution, “States” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the other territories and possessions of the United States);

Whereas volunteer Reye’s syndrome organizations are established throughout the United States and are supported by thousands of parents;

Whereas national Reye’s syndrome volunteer organizations exist to encourage involvement of the Federal Government in supporting Reye’s syndrome research; to encourage coordination of the treatment and research efforts by the various Reye’s syndrome treatment and research centers; to establish Reye’s syndrome as a reportable disease in every State; to establish at the Center for Disease Control a position for the review of data on Reye’s syndrome patients; to sponsor a multicenter research study by recognized authorities on Reye’s syndrome; to sponsor programs to educate parents and medical professionals with respect to diagnosis and treatment of the illness; and to raise funds for research into cause, prevention, and treatment of Reye’s syndrome;

Whereas Reye’s syndrome incidence continues to increase at a pace greater than the attention of the public, the Federal Government in general, and the Congress in particular; and

Whereas the chief executive officers of several States have declared certain periods of time as Reye’s syndrome weeks: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Approved July 19, 1983.