(Washington, D.C.) -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a resolution to encourage public awareness and understanding of cystic fibrosis, and support research to find a cure for the disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation applauds the House for this important achievement.

Introduced by co-chairs of the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, Representatives Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fl.), this legislation recognizes the unique challenges that face people with cystic fibrosis.

“Oh behalf of the cystic fibrosis community, I want to thank members of Congress for their commitment to fight cystic fibrosis. We are making dramatic progress in the development of new therapies and in extending life expectancy for those with this devastating disease,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Foundation. “We are proud to have Congressmen Markey and Stearns on our team as champions in the fight against cystic fibrosis.”

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States. When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was created in 1955, few children lived to attend elementary school. Today, as a result of dramatic improvements in research and care fueled by the Foundation, the median age of survival for a person with CF is 37 years. The Foundation continues to work to develop life-extending drugs for people with CF and more than 30 drugs are currently in development.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The CF Foundation funds more cystic fibrosis research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of CF Foundation support. Based in Bethesda, Md., the CF Foundation also supports and accredits a national care center network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. 

Media Contact

Laurie Fink, national director of media relations: 301-841-2602; lfink@cff.org