[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8311-S8312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 322--DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 2002, AS ``NATIONAL 
                       EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself, Ms. Colins, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Hutchinson, 
and Mr. Fitzgerald) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 322

       Whereas epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting 
     2,300,000 people in the United States;

[[Page S8312]]

       Whereas a seizure is a disturbance in the electrical 
     activity of the brain, and 25,000,000 Americans (1 in every 
     10) will have at least 1 seizure during their lives;
       Whereas 180,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy are 
     diagnosed each year, and 3 percent of Americans will have 
     developed epilepsy by the time they are 75;
       Whereas 41 percent of people who currently have epilepsy 
     experience persistent seizures despite the treatment they are 
     receiving;
       Whereas a survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention shows that the burden of disease for 
     people with epilepsy is comparable to that experienced by 
     people with cancer, diabetes, and arthritis;
       Whereas epilepsy in older children and adults remains a 
     formidable barrier to a normal life, affecting education, 
     employment, marriage, childbearing, and personal fulfillment;
       Whereas stigma surrounding epilepsy continues to fuel 
     discrimination and isolates people with seizure disorders 
     from the mainstream life;
       Whereas in spite of these obstacles, epileptics can live 
     healthy and productive lives and go on to make significant 
     contributions to society;
       Whereas we must ensure that funding for epilepsy research 
     programs at the National Institutes of Health, and for 
     epilepsy programs at the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention must continue to increase; and
       Whereas we must ensure that people with epilepsy in 
     underserved and unserved areas of the country have access to 
     appropriate care, and to this end it is essential that the 
     epilepsy program at the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration receive initial funding to create 
     demonstration projects to improve access to services in those 
     communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates November 2002, as ``National Epilepsy 
     Awareness Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I would like to submit a 
resolution about an important health disorder which affects 2.3 million 
Americans and 40,000 people in Arkansas. I am referring to epilepsy.
  Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder; people with this 
disorder may have seizures which may be as brief as a few seconds, or 
as traumatic as several minutes and visibly distracting. Several months 
ago, I had the opportunity to meet with a young man from Arkansas who 
has epilepsy and is a spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation, as part 
of their Winning Kids program, representing 300,000 children with this 
disease. Additionally, he is a role model for his peers in Arkansas due 
to his courage. His name is Bryan Raymond. As he said in a speech to 
other children in March, ``We are all different. Some of us hardly ever 
have seizures. Some of us have lots and lots of seizures. But we all 
want the same things. We want to be busy and happy. We want to go to 
school. We want to have friends. We want to play and have fun. We want 
other kids to understand what seizures are, and to respect us.'' The 
one thing he asked me, and I ask of you is that we teach our children 
and our communities about a better understanding about this disease. 
School-age children have a better understanding of HIV/AIDS and cancer 
than epilepsy. We must educate our children about this disease in order 
to allow these patients to thrive.
  In addition to the touching conversation I had with Bryan and his 
mother earlier this year, this disease is even closer to home for me. A 
young woman on my staff is diagnosed with this condition. Amy is here 
with me today for several reasons. First, she has provided a good 
first-hand account/knowledge of what epilepsy is and how it affects 
daily life. Second, she signifies the success which epileptics can 
have, like people from every other walk of life, when dealing with 
chronic conditions. To that end, this resolution is intended to serve 
two goals: to raise awareness about this disease, which in turn affects 
perception/stereotypes, and to increase funding for the long-term 
research for and care of patients.
  Presently, doctors tell their patients that there is no cure for 
epilepsy. Rather the solution is long-term medication or surgery. It is 
critical that we increase the funding committed to epilepsy. As far as 
we have advanced in other areas of medicine, even other neurological 
disorders, we must give equal time and resources to a cure for 
epilepsy.
  I would like to move that we establish the month of November as 
National Epilepsy Awareness Month. This is one small step toward the 
larger goal of overcoming epilepsy. As with other chronic illnesses, 
overcoming epilepsy is achieved in part through perception and part 
through science and medicine. Cancer, which was previously stigmatized 
to be terminal, is now more candidly discussed among patients and 
families and leagues ahead in research. I hope that this will be true 
as well with epilepsy.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
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  SENATE RESOLUTION 323--TO AUTHORIZE TESTIMONY AND REPRESENTATION I 
 SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL, ET. AL. V. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, ET. 
                      AL. AND CONSOLIDATION CASES

  Mr. DASCHLE (for himself and Mr. Lott) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 323

       Whereas, in the case of Senator Mitch McConnell, et al. v. 
     Federal Election Commission, et al., No. 02-CV-582, and 
     consolidated cases, pending in the United States District 
     Court for the District of Columbia, notices for the taking of 
     depositions have been served on Senator Mitch McConnell, who 
     is a plaintiff, and Senators Olympia Snowe, James Jeffords, 
     John McCain, and Russell Feingold, who are intervenor-
     defendants;
       Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(c) and 706(a) of the 
     Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 288b(c) 
     and 288e(a), the Senate may direct its counsel to appear as 
     amicus curiae in the name of the Senate in any legal 
     proceeding in which the powers and responsibilities of 
     Congress under the Constitution are placed in issue;
       Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United 
     States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from 
     such control or possession but by permission of the Senate;
       Whereas, by Rule VI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate 
     without leave; and
       Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or 
     in the possession of the Senate may promote the 
     administration of justice, the Senate will take such action 
     as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the 
     privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That, in the case of Senator Mitch McConnell, et 
     al. v. Federal Election Commission, et al., and consolidated 
     cases, Senators Mitch McConnell, Olympia Snowe, James 
     Jeffords, John McCain, and Russell Feingold, and any other 
     Senator who agrees to participate in this litigation, are 
     authorized to testify, except concerning matters for which a 
     privilege should be asserted and when their attendance at the 
     Senate is necessary for the performance of their legislative 
     duties.
       Sec. 2. That the Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to 
     appear as amicus curiae in the name of the Senate in the case 
     of Senator Mitch McConnell, et al. v. Federal Election 
     Commission, et al., and consolidated cases, the represent the 
     interests of the Senate in connection with discovery sought 
     from Senators in these cases.

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