[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H5097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FINDING A CURE FOR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, every day in America 15 
people are diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, amounting to more than 
5,600 people each year. The average life expectancy for people with 
this disease is only 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
  Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS, is a fatal illness that attacks nerve 
cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these nerve cells 
die, a person loses muscle control. People with advanced stages of the 
disease can be totally paralyzed, yet their minds remain sharp and 
alert.
  However, there is hope. Recent advances allow people with Lou 
Gehrig's disease to live longer lives. New breakthroughs have occurred, 
due in large part to the efforts of the ALS Association. The 
association provides the largest private source of funding for 
researching the cause, and ultimately, the cure for Lou Gehrig's 
disease.
  I commend the efforts of the Carolinas Chapter of the ALS Association 
and Executive Director Jerry Dawson for their commitment and dedication 
in caring for those with Lou Gehrig's disease in both North Carolina 
and South Carolina. Their efforts today will bring us closer to finding 
a cure tomorrow for Lou Gehrig's disease.

                          ____________________