A resolution designating May 2021 as "ALS Awareness Month".

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 255 Designating May 2021 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 28 (legislative day, MAY 27), 2021 Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. BRAUN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 2021 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this pre- amble as ‘‘ALS’’) is a progressive neurodegenerative dis- ease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is be- tween 2 and 5 years after the date on which the indi- vidual receives an ALS diagnosis; Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries; Whereas ALS may affect any individual in any location; Whereas the cause of ALS is unknown in up to 90 percent of cases; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 May 29, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR255.ATS SR255 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 255 ATS Whereas approximately 10 percent of cases have a strong known genetic driver; Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which an individual first experiences symptoms of ALS and the date on which the individual is diagnosed with ALS is more than 1 year; Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness, and the progression of ALS results in the fur- ther weakening, wasting, and paralysis of— (1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and (2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as speech, swallowing, and breathing; Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age, but it pre- dominantly strikes adults; Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of individuals in the United States have ALS at any given time; Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United States, slightly more than 5,600 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, and 15 individ- uals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each day; Whereas, between 2015 and 2040, the number of ALS cases around the world is expected to increase by nearly 70 percent; Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of res- piratory failure; Whereas, in the United States, military veterans may be up to twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the gen- eral public; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 May 29, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR255.ATS SR255 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 255 ATS Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, there is no cure for ALS; Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of indi- viduals living with ALS provide support to those individ- uals with love, day-to-day care, and more; and Whereas an individual with ALS, and the caregivers of such an individual, can be required to bear significant costs for medical care, equipment, and home care services for the individual as the disease progresses: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates May 2021 as ‘‘ALS Awareness 2 Month’’; 3 (2) affirms the dedication of the Senate to— 4 (A) ensuring individuals with amyotrophic 5 lateral sclerosis (referred to in this resolving 6 clause as ‘‘ALS’’) have access to effective treat- 7 ments as soon as possible; 8 (B) identifying risk factors and causes of 9 ALS to prevent new cases; 10 (C) empowering individuals with ALS to 11 engage with the world in the way they want; 12 (D) reducing the physical, emotional, and 13 financial burdens of living with ALS; and 14 (E) ensuring all individuals with ALS and 15 their caregivers receive high quality services and 16 supports that benefit them; and 17 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 May 29, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR255.ATS SR255 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 255 ATS (3) commends the dedication of the family 1 members, friends, organizations, volunteers, re- 2 searchers, and caregivers across the United States 3 that are working to improve the quality and length 4 of life of ALS patients and the development of treat- 5 ments and cures that reach patients as soon as pos- 6 sible. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 May 29, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR255.ATS SR255 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS