Bill > HRes342

This resolution recognizes the harmful history of diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen drug that was widely prescribed to pregnant women between the 1940s and 1971 to prevent miscarriage. The resolution highlights that DES was used by approximately five to ten million pregnant women and was later found to be toxic and carcinogenic, causing serious health consequences for their children, particularly daughters who developed rare cancers like clear cell adenocarcinoma. The FDA banned DES for use during pregnancy in 1971, but the resolution notes ongoing health challenges for those exposed to the drug in utero, including fertility issues and other physical and mental health complications. The resolution supports designating April 20-26, 2025, as "DES Awareness Week" and calls for four specific actions: expressing support for this awareness week, recognizing the historical harm caused by DES, supporting restoration of funding for the DES Follow-Up Study, and urging the FDA to issue a formal apology to families impacted by the drug.