SR1183 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1183 LRB098 21180 GRL 59205 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A new report by the World Health Organization reveals that antibiotic resistance is a serious threat and is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country; antibiotic resistance - when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections - is now a major threat to public health; and

WHEREAS, Urgent, coordinated action is needed or the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill; and

WHEREAS, Effective antibiotics have allowed people to live longer, live healthier, and benefit from modern medicine; and

WHEREAS, Policymakers can help address the issue of antibiotic resistance by: strengthening resistance tracking and laboratory capacity, regulating and promoting appropriate use of medicines, fostering innovation and research and development of new tools, and promoting cooperation and information sharing among all stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, Unless significant action is taken to improve efforts to prevent infections and also change how we produce, prescribe, and use antibiotics, the results will be devastating; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to dedicate additional National Science Foundation funds to antibiotic resistance research and to maximize its efforts in addressing the issue as well as work on solutions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Senator Richard J. Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, and the rest of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.