[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 235 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 235

      Designating May 15, 2021, as ``National MPS Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 25, 2021

    Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Designating May 15, 2021, as ``National MPS Awareness Day''.

Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this preamble as ``MPS'') are a 
        group of genetically determined lysosomal storage diseases that render 
        the human body incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break 
        down complex carbohydrates;
Whereas MPS diseases cause complex carbohydrates to be stored in almost every 
        cell in the body, which progressively leads to cellular damage;
Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS--

    (1) adversely affects the human body by damaging the heart, lungs, 
bones, central nervous system, and other internal organs; and

    (2) often results in intellectual disabilities, short stature, corneal 
damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility, speech and hearing impairment, 
heart disease, hyperactivity, chronic respiratory problems, and, most 
painfully, a drastically shortened life span;

Whereas symptoms of MPS are usually not apparent at birth;
Whereas, without treatment, the life expectancy of an individual afflicted with 
        MPS begins to decrease at a very early stage in the life of that 
        individual;
Whereas research has resulted in the development of limited treatments for some 
        MPS diseases;
Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, promising advancements 
        in the pursuit of treatments for additional MPS diseases are underway;
Whereas, despite the creation of new remedies, the blood-brain barrier continues 
        to be a significant impediment to effectively treating the brain, which 
        prevents the treatment of many of the symptoms of MPS;
Whereas the quality of life of individuals afflicted with MPS and the treatments 
        available to those individuals will be enhanced through the development 
        of early detection and early intervention techniques;
Whereas treatments for and research advancements relating to MPS are limited by 
        a lack of awareness about MPS diseases;
Whereas the lack of awareness about MPS diseases extends to individuals within 
        the medical community;
Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS makes MPS a model for the study of 
        many other degenerative genetic diseases; and
Whereas the development of effective therapies and a potential cure for MPS 
        diseases can be accomplished by increased awareness, research, data 
        collection, and information distribution: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates May 15, 2021, as ``National MPS Awareness 
        Day''; and
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National MPS Awareness 
        Day.
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