WASHINGTON (May 21, 2009)—Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, introduced a bill Thursday that would create a national database of undiagnosed diseases maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to advance detection, treatment and cure of undiagnosed and unregistered illnesses.

The “Charles August Long ‘Cal” Undiagnosed Disease Registry Act of 2009” is named in honor of 5-year-old Carl August Long of Cedar Park who died in December of 2006 of an undiagnosed illness, Carter said.

The boy’s mother, Heather Long, joined Carter in a news teleconference Thursday to discuss the bill.

She approached Carter about helping with the legislation after her son lost his three-year struggle against an illness that was never diagnosed.

Carter said the database would also benefit the country’s veterans.

“Nearly every war invariably produces veterans who have contracted previously unknown ailments and illnesses,” Carter said.

“This bill could significantly lessen the amount of time necessary to research and diagnose their symptoms and develop effective treatments. It could also provide an early warning system in the event our military personnel were unknowingly exposed to chemical or biological agents,” he said.