[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 60 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL ALS AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 102, Senate 
Resolution 72.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 72) designating the month of May in 
     1999 and 2000 as ``National ALS Awareness Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 72) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 72

       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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