A resolution designating May 2023 as "ALS Awareness Month".

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 224 Designating May 2023 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 18, 2023 Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. COONS, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MARSHALL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. COTTON, Mr. MERKLEY, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating May 2023 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 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 224 IS Whereas approximately 10 percent of ALS 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, more than 5,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, and 15 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each day; Whereas every 90 minutes someone dies from ALS in the United States; Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of res- piratory failure; Whereas, in the United States, military veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than individuals with no history of military service; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, there is no cure for ALS; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 224 IS 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 2023 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 (3) commends the dedication of the family 18 members, friends, organizations, volunteers, re- 19 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 224 IS searchers, and caregivers across the United States 1 who are working to improve the quality and length 2 of life of ALS patients and the development of treat- 3 ments and cures that reach patients as soon as pos- 4 sible. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR224.IS SR224 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS