2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 78

Designating September, in 2026 and in each succeeding year, as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month in Virginia.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 11, 2026

Agreed to by the Senate, March 3, 2026

WHEREAS, pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly lung-scarring disease with no true cure and limited treatment options, which only slow progression; while lung transplantation can mitigate the disease for certain patients, the procedure is only available to a small number of individuals and may result in additional complications; and

WHEREAS, nearly 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis every year; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has made significant contributions in the field of pulmonary fibrosis over the past two decades and was recently designated as a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center; and

WHEREAS, other Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Centers in the Commonwealth include Inova Fairfax Medical Campus in Falls Church and the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation established the month of September as national Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month to help unify the pulmonary fibrosis community and increase public awareness and research on behalf of this deadly disease; and

WHEREAS, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month provides an occasion for all Virginians to learn more about the disease, support research into treatments and a cure, and engage in healthy lifestyles; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate September, in 2026 and in each succeeding year, as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this month on the General Assembly's website.