Florida Senate - 2022 (NP) SR 1996 By Senator Jones 35-03640-22 20221996__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing March 2022 as “Rare Kidney 3 Disease Awareness Month” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, March is recognized as “National Kidney Month,” 6 focused on raising public awareness and understanding of rare 7 kidney diseases, such as APOL1-mediated kidney disease, and 8 WHEREAS, APOL1 genetic variants account for much of the 9 excess risk of chronic and end-stage kidney disease for persons 10 of African ancestry, including people who identify as African 11 American, Afro-Caribbean, and Latinx, and 12 WHEREAS, APOL1 explains the disproportionate rate of kidney 13 disease in people of African ancestry, with African Americans 14 making up 13 percent of the United States population, but 15 accounting for 32 percent of all kidney failure and 35 percent 16 of all end-stage kidney disease, and African Americans are 4 17 times more likely to develop kidney failure than white 18 Americans, and 19 WHEREAS, APOL1-mediated kidney disease is driven by genetic 20 factors and is underdiagnosed, and 21 WHEREAS, symptoms, including fatigue, swelling in the legs 22 and feet, and weight gain, do not present themselves until 23 kidney damage is advanced, and 24 WHEREAS, increasing public awareness and understanding of 25 the genetic causes of rare kidney diseases could lead to early 26 diagnosis and care for some of the most vulnerable populations 27 and empower and educate those at risk on how they can manage it, 28 NOW, THEREFORE, 29 30 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 31 32 That March 2022 is recognized as “Rare Kidney Disease 33 Awareness Month” in Florida.