Pennsylvania HR643: A Resolution recognizing the month of July 2026 as "Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

What the bill says

A resolution Recognizing the month of July 2026 as "Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

From the introduced text, September 29, 2026:

A RESOLUTION Recognizing the month of July 2026 as "Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, Juvenile arthritis is an umbrella term that refers to pediatric rheumatic diseases that can develop in children 16 years of age or younger; and WHEREAS, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoinflammatory disease of an unknown origin and the most common type of arthritis in children; and WHEREAS, An autoinflammatory disease causes the immune system to become overactive even when there is no infection or illness to fight or mistakenly attack healthy cells and tissues; and WHEREAS, There is no evidence as to what causes JIA, and no links have been found that foods, toxins, allergies or the lack of vitamins play a role in developing the disease; and WHEREAS, Current research indicates that there is a genetic predisposition to JIA; and WHEREAS, Researchers believe that a trigger, such as a virus, can initiate JIA in a child who has the genetic tendency; and WHEREAS, Systemic JIA, oligoarticular JIA, polyarticular JIA, juvenile psoriatic arthritis, enthesitis-related JIA and undifferentiated arthritis are the six subtypes of JIA; and WHEREAS, Nearly 300,000 children in the United States have some form of arthritis; and WHEREAS, Typical symptoms of arthritis include limping, stiffness when awakening, reluctance to use an arm or leg, reduced activity level, persistent fever, joint swelling …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Struzzi II, James B. (R, 62) · primary sponsor
• Joseph Ciresi (D, 146)
• Harry Conklin (D, 77)
• Justin Fleming (D, 105)
• Patrick Gallagher (D, 173)
• Natalie Mihalek (R, 40)
• Nikki Rivera (D, 96)
• David Rowe (R, 85)
• Brian Smith (R, 66)
• Arvind Venkat (D, 30)
• Catherine I Wallen (R, 193)

Latest actions

1. September 29, 2026: Referred to HEALTH, Sept. 29, 2026

Common questions

What is HR643?

HR643 is a bill in the Pennsylvania Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): A Resolution recognizing the month of July 2026 as "Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

What does HR643 do?

In its own words: A resolution Recognizing the month of July 2026 as "Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

What is the status of HR643?

In committee as of September 29, 2026. Latest action: Referred to HEALTH, Sept. 29, 2026 (September 29, 2026).

Who sponsored HR643?

Struzzi II, James B. (R, 62), with 10 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HR643?

On the Pennsylvania Legislature website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hr643