; Whereas people with rare diseases experience challenges that include— (1) difficulty in obtaining an accurate diagnosis; (2) limited treatment options; and (3) difficulty finding physicians or treatment centers with expertise in rare diseases; Whereas the rare disease community gained important new tools during the 115th Congress with the enactment of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–52 ; 131 Stat. 1005), which— (1) advanced and facilitated the development and timely approval of drugs and biologics for rare diseases, including diseases affecting children; (2) reauthorized user fees to help deliver safe and effective treatments to individuals with rare diseases; (3) supported the utilization of real-world evidence; (4) supported patient-focused drug development; and (5) supported the National Evaluation System for Health Technology; Whereas both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have established special offices to support and facilitate rare disease research and treatments; Whereas the National Organization for Rare Disorders (referred to as NORD in this preamble), a nonprofit organization established in 1983 to provide services to and advocate on behalf of patients with rare diseases, remains a critical public voice for people with rare diseases; Whereas 2018 marks the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Orphan Drug Act and the establishment of NORD; Whereas NORD sponsors Rare Disease Day in the United States and partners with many other major rare disease organizations to increase public awareness of rare diseases; Whereas Rare Disease Day is observed each year on the last day of February; Whereas Rare Disease Day is a global event that was first observed in the United States on February 28, 2009, and observed in more than 94 countries in 2017; and Whereas Rare Disease Day is expected to be observed globally for years to come, providing hope and information for rare disease patients around the world: Now, therefore, be it