[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 566, submitted earlier today 
by Senator Johnson.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 566) designating June 2008 as 
     ``National Aphasia Awareness Month'' and supporting efforts 
     to increase awareness of aphasia.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HARKIN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 566) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 566

       Whereas aphasia is a communication impairment caused by 
     brain damage, typically resulting from a stroke;
       Whereas, while aphasia is most often the result of stroke 
     or brain injury, it can also occur with other neurological 
     disorders, such as in the case of a brain tumor;
       Whereas many people with aphasia also have weakness or 
     paralysis in their right leg and right arm, usually due to 
     damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls 
     language and movement on the right side of the body;
       Whereas the effects of aphasia may include a loss or 
     reduction in ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write, 
     while intelligence remains intact;
       Whereas stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the 
     United States, ranking behind heart disease and cancer;
       Whereas stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term 
     disability in the United States;
       Whereas there are about 5,000,000 stroke survivors in the 
     United States;
       Whereas it is estimated that there are about 750,000 
     strokes per year in the United States, with approximately \1/
     3\ of these resulting in aphasia;
       Whereas aphasia affects at least 1,000,000 people in the 
     United States;
       Whereas more than 200,000 Americans acquire the disorder 
     each year;
       Whereas the National Aphasia Association is unique and 
     provides communication strategies, support, and education for 
     people with aphasia and their caregivers throughout the 
     United States; and
       Whereas as an advocacy organization for people with aphasia 
     and their caregivers, the National Aphasia Association 
     envisions a world that recognizes this ``silent'' disability 
     and provides opportunity and fulfillment for those affected 
     by aphasia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of, and encourages all 
     Americans to observe, National Aphasia Awareness Month in 
     June 2008;
       (2) recognizes that strokes, a primary cause of aphasia, 
     are the third largest cause of death and disability in the 
     United States;
       (3) acknowledges that aphasia deserves more attention and 
     study in order to find new solutions for serving individuals 
     experiencing aphasia and their caregivers; and
       (4) must make the voices of those with aphasia heard 
     because they are often unable to communicate their condition 
     to others.




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