,,iv  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #fja  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,september #bf1     
#bjai,mr4 ,payne 7for himself1 ,mr4     
,raskin1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi1
 and ,mr4 ,soto7 submitted the following
 resolution2 which was referred to the  
,committee on ,oversight and ,reform    
,,resolution  ,supporting the           
designation of ,october #e1 #bjai1 as   
,national ,ostomy ,awareness ,day4      
,whereas an ostomy is a type of surgery 
that creates an opening in the abdomen  
that allows for the removal of bodily   
waste when a person has lost the normal 
function of digestive or urinary systems
 due to birth defects1 colorectal       
cancer1 bladder cancer1 ,crohn's        
disease1 ulcerative colitis1 and other  
medical conditions2 ,whereas an ostomy  
is also necessary in cases of severe    
abdominal or pelvic trauma resulting    
from accidents or from injuries         
sustained during military service2      
,whereas approximately #gbe1jjj to      

#a1jjj1jjj people in the ,united ,states
 have an ostomy or continent diversion1 
with approximately #ajj1jjj new ostomy  
procedures performed each year2 ,whereas
 ostomy or continent diversion surgery  
can occur at any age and does not lower 
life expectancy2 ,whereas through the   
efforts of ostomy support organizations1
 people needing these surgeries are     
becoming more aware of the opportunities
 for education1 mutual aid1 advocacy1   
and support that are of such great      
benefit to them and their families2     
,whereas the aim of ,national ,ostomy   
,awareness ,day is to work toward a     
society where people with ostomies and  
intestinal or urinary diversions are    
universally accepted and supported      
socially1 economically1 medically1 and  
psychologically2 ,whereas public        
education and awareness is vital to     
ensure those who are living with an     
ostomy face no discrimination and are   
accepted as normal1 healthy individuals2
 ,whereas through education and         

awareness we can erase the myths1       
stigma1 and embarrassment that are      
sometimes associated with having an     
ostomy2 ,whereas there is a deep        
commitment to the proper care and       
advancement of knowledge about bowel and
 urinary diversion surgery as a result  
of birth defects1 disease1 injury1 and  
other digestive disorders2 and ,whereas 
to increase public acceptance of ostomy 
surgery and continent diversion surgery 
and to remind those who have had surgery
 in the ,united ,states that by raising 
awareness they can help the world better
 understand this life-saving surgery and
 help people receive better ostomy care3
 ,now1 therefore1 be it3  ,that the     
,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7       
supports the goals and ideals of        
,national ,ostomy ,awareness ,day2 and  
7#b7 encourages the people of the       
,united ,states to observe the day with 
the appropriate awareness and           
educational activities4