Read the full stored bill text
PRINTER'S NO. 3258
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 475
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY RIVERA, FREEMAN, GUZMAN, VENKAT, SANCHEZ, HILL-
EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN, NEILSON AND PASHINSKI,
APRIL 22, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 22, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2026 as "ITP Awareness Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Immune thrombocytopenia, otherwise known as ITP, is
a rare autoimmune disease that causes an individual to have a
low platelet count, which may cause bruising, bleeding and
fatigue; and
WHEREAS, In severe cases, individuals can experience brain
bleeds or bleeding from their mouth, nose and gums; and
WHEREAS, The Platelet Disorder Support Association observes
September as "ITP Awareness Month" annually to raise awareness,
enhance research and develop better outcomes for individuals
living with ITP; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosing ITP is difficult because there is not a
specific test to identify it or a specific cause for how it
develops; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosis may include a physical examination, blood
smears, bone marrow examination or other blood tests; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
WHEREAS, The three phases of ITP are newly diagnosed ITP,
persistent ITP and chronic ITP, each with numerous symptoms and
side effects and classified by the length of time a person has
had the condition; and
WHEREAS, Unlike other diseases there is no estimated timeline
for how long ITP will last, as the condition can be chronic and
last for more than a year or be persistent and last about six to
12 months; and
WHEREAS, Standard treatment consists of undergoing blood and
platelet transfusions and plasma exchanges and managing ITP
caused by some viral, bacterial and other infections; and
WHEREAS, A splenectomy may also be necessary to remove the
spleen in order to prevent platelets from being circulated and
potentially destroyed by antibodies; and
WHEREAS, Recovery from ITP varies depending on the
individual, and there is no cure or treatment that is guaranteed
to be effective; and
WHEREAS, Patients often have to undergo different treatments
and medications to determine which is most effective for their
condition; and
WHEREAS, While children are more likely to recover from ITP
without treatment, adults tend to recover at slower rates and
may require treatment for the rest of their lives; and
WHEREAS, Patients with ITP may need to avoid participating in
contact sports and other activities due to potential injuries
and avoid taking certain medications because of the high risk of
internal bleeding; and
WHEREAS, More than 50,000 people in the United States are
surviving and managing their ITP; and
WHEREAS, While ITP can affect anyone of any age, studies have
20260HR0475PN3258 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
shown that women 30 to 60 years of age are more likely to have
ITP; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial to spread awareness for rare
autoimmune diseases such as ITP to encourage research studies to
be conducted, discovery of more effective treatments and
potential cures and to support those who are impacted by the
conditions; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of September 2026 as "ITP Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
20260HR0475PN3258 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10