[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 72 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 72

    Designating the month of May in 1999 and 2000 as ``National ALS 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 23, 1999

 Mr. Torricelli submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating the month of May in 1999 and 2000 as ``National ALS 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's 
        Disease, is a progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by a 
        degeneration of the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord leading to 
        the wasting of muscles, paralysis, and eventual death;
Whereas approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with 
        ALS at any time, with approximately 5,000 new cases appearing each year;
Whereas ALS usually strikes individuals that are 50 years of age or older;
Whereas the life expectancy of an individual with ALS is 3 to 5 years from the 
        time of diagnosis;
Whereas there is no known cause or cure for ALS;
Whereas aggressive treatment of the symptoms of ALS can extend the lives of 
        individuals with the disease; and
Whereas recent advances in ALS research have produced promising leads, many 
        related to shared disease processes that appear to operate in many 
        neurodegenerative diseases: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of May in 1999 and 2000 as 
        ``National ALS Awareness Month''; and
            (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
        on the people of the United States to observe the month with 
        appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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