On October 1, the House approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 389) expressing congressional support for increased research on Fragile X, the most common inherited cause of mental retardation. Sponsored by Reps. Wes Watkins (R-OK) and William Delahunt (D-MA), the resolution recognizes the impact of Fragile X, calls on the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance and increase their efforts with respect to Fragile X research, calls on medical schools and other health educators to promote research that will lead to a treatment and/or cure, and commends the goals and ideals of a National Fragile X Research Day.
According to the resolution, the gene that causes Fragile X is carried by 1 out of every 267 women. If a woman is carrying the gene, there is a 50 percent chance that the baby will be born with Fragile X. Additionally, the lifetime cost of caring for an individual with Fragile X is estimated to exceed $2 million.
Noting that 1 out of 2,000 boys and 1 out of 4,000 girls are born with Fragile X, Rep. Watkins said, “Current research holds great promise for the development of effective treatments, but additional support for these efforts are [sic] urgently needed by this Congress.”
“We have heard the statistics, the high incidence rate, the fact that Fragile X is relatively unknown, even among medical professionals,” said Rep. Delahunt. “It is easily identified by a simple blood test, yet families are left often struggling for months, even years, searching for explanations for alarming developmental delays and behavioral problems associated with Fragile X; and they live in a time of uncertainty.”
The resolution was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited floor procedure that limits debate, prohibits amendments, and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
