Pennsylvania House Bill HR249

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/4/25

Caption

Designating the week of September 21 through 28, 2025, as "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research and Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania to increase awareness and understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to support improved diagnosis and treatment.

Summary

House Resolution 249 designates the week of September 21 through 28, 2025, as “Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research and Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. The resolution is intended to raise public understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a serious and often fatal lung disease that causes progressive scarring of the lungs and can lead to disability or death within a few years of diagnosis. The resolution highlights the lack of a known cause for IPF, the frequency of misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis, and the need for greater research, detection, and treatment. It also notes the estimated number of Pennsylvanians affected, the role of Pennsylvania hospitals in lung transplantation, and the work of advocacy and support organizations in educating patients, families, and health care providers.

Impact

Because this is a House resolution, it does not change Pennsylvania statutes or create regulatory requirements. Its legal effect is limited to formally recognizing a commemorative awareness week and encouraging education, research attention, and improved diagnosis and treatment efforts related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The practical impact is symbolic and advocacy-oriented, with potential benefits for public awareness and support for affected patients and organizations.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong bipartisan support and little opposition. The House Health Committee reported the bill as committed by a 26-0 vote, indicating unanimous committee approval. The resolution’s tone is sympathetic and public-health focused, emphasizing the seriousness of the disease and the need for greater awareness and research.

Contention

No notable substantive opposition appears in the provided materials. The resolution is largely noncontroversial because it is a commemorative measure rather than a policy or funding bill. Any discussion implied by the text centers on the importance of raising awareness, improving diagnosis, and supporting research and patient advocacy, rather than on disputed legal or fiscal issues.