Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/194

 98 STAT. 1354

PUBLIC LAW 98-388—AUG. 21,,1984

Public Law 98-388 98th Congress

T8fv Joint Resolution

Aug. 21, 1984 [H.J. Res. 587]

Designating the month of August 1984 as "Ostomy Awareness Month".

Whereas the word ostomy refers to a type of surgical operation, such as colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy, that is required when a person has lost the normal function of the bowel or bladder as a result of birth defect, disease, injury, or other disorder; Whereas nearly 125,000 new ostomy surgeries are performed each year; Whereas an ostomy allows normal body wastes to be expelled through a surgical opening (stoma) on the abdominal wall; Whereas more than 1.5 million individuals in the United States are ostomates, including persons of every age, race, occupation, and ethnic background; Whereas the United Ostomy Association is dedicated to helping ostomates in North America overcome the trauma associated with this type of surgery and return to normal living and community responsibility through mutual aid, moral support, education about proper ostomy care, exchange of ideas, assistance in improving ostomy equipment and supplies, support of research, and public information; and Whereas the United Ostomy Association, a nonprofit agency of nearly 650 chapters, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all children, young adults, and senior adults whose lifestyle has been changed because of this radical surgical procedure: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the month of August 1984 is designated as "Ostomy Awareness Month". The President is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon all Federal and State departments and agencies, public education groups, the media, the health care community, and the people of the United States to observe that month with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Approved August 21, 1984.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 587 (S.J. Res. 330): CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): Aug. 8, considered and passed House. Aug. 10, considered and passed Senate.

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