February 28 Rare Disease Day

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-014

BY SENATOR(S) Kipp and Simpson, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Exum, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Marchman, Mullica, PeltonB., PeltonR., Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Garcia and Johnson, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks, Brown, Caldwell, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, English, Espenoza, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Lukens, Mabrey, Marshall, Martinez, Mauro, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie, McCluskie.

CONCERNING THE DECLARATION OF FEBRUARY 28, 2026, AS RARE DISEASE DAY.

WHEREAS, Coloradans with rare diseases, and their families, friends, and caretakers, know the challenges they face every day, such as finding knowledgeable providers, obtaining appropriate treatments, and paying and traveling for care, and the many other ways in which life can be extra challenging because of a rare disease; and WHEREAS, One in ten people and more than 500,000 Coloradans live with a rare disease; and WHEREAS, According to the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 30 million Americans, nearly 10% of the country's population, living with a rare disease today; and WHEREAS, An estimated 15 million children in the United States have a rare disease, and, sadly, 30% will not live to see their fifth

birthday; and WHEREAS, There are more than 10,000 rare diseases, which are defined as medical conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans, and most of these conditions may affect only a few hundred individuals; and WHEREAS, These rare diseases are often lifelong, and many are terminal; and WHEREAS, Most rare diseases are genetic or have a genetic component; no individual or family is immune from a rare disease; and WHEREAS, Direct medical costs for people with rare diseases are three to five times higher than those for people with nonrare diseases; each year the costs amount to an estimated $400 billion nationwide and $12 billion in Colorado; and WHEREAS, Fewer than 5% of the known 10,000 rare diseases have an FDA-approved treatment; and WHEREAS, In 1983, the National Organization for Rare Disorders pioneered the passage of the federal "Orphan Drug Act", the world's first law incentivizing drug development for rare diseases by offering market exclusivity and tax credits; and WHEREAS, The zebra is the official mascot for rare disease patients because, historically, medical professionals were taught that when they "hear hoofbeats", they should not expect to see a zebra and should instead look for the more common answer, a horse; and WHEREAS, Today, we know that one in ten Americans is like a "zebra", living with a rare condition; it is not always obvious to recognize or diagnose a person with a rare disease, and, as a result, this can cause a delay in care and can often negatively impact a person's quality of life or life expectancy; and WHEREAS, This Rare Disease Day, special events and activities are planned for February 27th and 28th, including lighting up Denver's City and County Building; additionally, individuals and families affected by

rare diseases will be sharing their stories on social media, radio, and TV; in newspaper interviews; and at community events; and WHEREAS, We see our constituents with these conditions and acknowledge the need for better understanding, the need for access to care, and the financial impact on families; and WHEREAS, We also see that these families, despite the challenges, live their lives with optimism, hope for the future, courage, kindness for others, and, most of all, acceptance that this is, through no fault of their own, the life that they have.been granted; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House ofRepresentatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly: (1) Declare February 28, 2026, to be Rare Disease Day in Colorado to help raise awareness of rare diseases within Colorado; (2) "Show our stripes" in solidarity with our community ofindividual "zebras" living with a rare disease; (3) Recognize and support all of these individuals on this Rare Disease Day, in 2026 and every day; (4) Salute these individuals for all that it means to live with a rare disease and the humanity that they show in so doing; and (5) On this day, as we recognize Rare Disease Day around the country, take a moment to appreciate the more than 500,000 Coloradans, and the more than 30 million Americans, who live with a rare disease today.

Be it Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the members of the Colorado Rare Disease Advisory Council.

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES