HR 461 — A Resolution recognizing the month of June 2026 as "Scleroderma Awareness Month" and June 29, 2026, as "World Scleroderma Day" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.    3125

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 461
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, RIVERA, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, KAZEEM,
        HOHENSTEIN, GALLAGHER AND BELLMON, MARCH 30, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 31, 2026


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing the month of June 2026 as "Scleroderma Awareness
 2      Month" and June 29, 2026, as "World Scleroderma Day" in
 3      Pennsylvania.
 4         WHEREAS, Scleroderma is a rare group of autoimmune diseases
 5   that makes the skin harden and tighten, which may cause issues
 6   in the blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, heart and lungs;
 7   and
 8         WHEREAS, There are two main groups of scleroderma, localized
 9   scleroderma, which typically only affects one area of the skin,
10   and systemic scleroderma, which affects the skin as well as the
11   internal organs; and
12         WHEREAS, Approximately 300,000 individuals in the United
13   States have scleroderma, with one-third of those individuals
14   having systemic scleroderma; and
15         WHEREAS, Up to 80% of individuals diagnosed with scleroderma
16   are women; and
17         WHEREAS, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed
18   with systemic scleroderma than non-African Americans, and
 1   African Americans are also more likely to have earlier onset of
 2   the disease and more severe symptoms; and
 3      WHEREAS, Scleroderma commonly occurs between 25 and 55 years
 4   of age; and
 5      WHEREAS, Symptoms commonly affect the face, feet, fingers,
 6   and hands first, and early symptoms include hardening and
 7   tightening of the skin, swelling and itchiness; and
 8      WHEREAS, Diagnosis may include physical exams, laboratory
 9   tests for antibodies, skin biopsies, computerized tomography,
10   echocardiograms and pulmonary function tests; and
11      WHEREAS, There is not a cure for scleroderma, but treatment
12   may include medications to dilate blood vessels, suppress the
13   immune system, reduce stomach acid, prevent infections of ulcers
14   caused by Raynaud's phenomenon and alleviate pain, in addition
15   to physical and occupational therapies and stem cell and organ
16   transplants; and
17      WHEREAS, Symptoms associated with scleroderma may decrease on
18   their own in three to six years, while systemic scleroderma,
19   which damages the internal organs, continues to worsen; and
20      WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of
21   Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and other entities in
22   Pennsylvania continue to research scleroderma, enabling
23   individuals to receive treatment to mitigate their symptoms; and
24      WHEREAS, Awareness of rare diseases such as scleroderma
25   assists in individuals' knowledge about the symptoms, research
26   to treat these rare diseases and providing supports to
27   individuals with rare diseases; therefore be it
28      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
29   month of June 2026 as "Scleroderma Awareness Month" and June 29,
30   2026, as "World Scleroderma Day" in Pennsylvania.

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