IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 10 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 7, 2009 Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Supporting the observance of World Stroke Awareness Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas stroke can be preventable and treatable, and catastrophe can be avoided; Whereas stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability; Whereas stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide; Whereas on average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 45 seconds, and every 3 to 4 minutes someone dies of one; Whereas underlying factors such as aging, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and physical inactivity fuel a growing epidemic of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease; Whereas stroke symptoms can be painless and fleeting, such as sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, sudden inability to speak or understand speech, loss of vision in one eye, or sudden loss of balance; Whereas the most common severe stroke symptoms are crushing chest pain or sudden, severe unusual headache; Whereas brain injury from a stroke can affect the senses, motor activity, speech, and the ability to understand speech; Whereas brain injury from a stroke can also affect behavioral and thought patterns, memory, and emotions, and cause paralysis or weakness on one side of the body; Whereas each year stroke occurs in 1 out of 400 newborns and in 3 out of 50,000 children, and stroke can occur before birth; Whereas the estimated cost of stroke in 2006 is $57.9 billion; Whereas 2.3 percent of Caucasians, 3.5 percent of African-Americans, and 2.2 percent of Hispanic-Americans have had a stroke; Whereas worldwide, stroke accounts for 5,700,000 deaths each year; Whereas 4 out of 5 strokes occur in low and middle income countries who can least afford to deal with the consequences of stroke; Whereas the current predicted number of people who will die from stroke worldwide will increase to 6,700,000 each year by 2015; Whereas 6,000,000 deaths around the world could be averted over the next 10 years if what is already known is applied; and Whereas consistent funding is needed to ensure continued progression in treatment development and technology, and to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors: Now, therefore, be it

That the Congress— (1)supports the observance of World Stroke Awareness Day in order to provide a special opportunity to offer education on the importance of prevention and treatment; (2)salutes the more than 5,500,000 survivors in the United States and the efforts of volunteers and professionals who assist patients every day; and (3)emphasizes the need to coordinate the efforts of all disease-oriented organizations in order to prevent the rise of underlying risk factors and promote healthy living behaviors around the world.