[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DESIGNATING JUNE 6, 2008, AS ``NATIONAL HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE AWARENESS 
                                 DAY''

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 581, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 581) designating June 6, 2008 as 
     ``National Huntington's Disease Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 581) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 581

       Whereas Huntington's Disease is a progressive degenerative 
     neurological disease that causes total physical and mental 
     deterioration over a 12 to 15 year period;
       Whereas each child of a parent with Huntington's Disease 
     has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the Huntington's 
     Disease gene;
       Whereas Huntington's Disease typically begins in mid-life, 
     between the ages of 30 and 45, though onset may occur as 
     early as the age of 2;
       Whereas children who develop the juvenile form of the 
     disease rarely live to adulthood;
       Whereas the average lifespan after onset of Huntington's 
     Disease is 10 to 20 years, and the younger the age of onset, 
     the more rapid the progression of the disease;
       Whereas Huntington's Disease affects 30,000 patients and 
     200,000 genetically ``at risk'' individuals in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, since the discovery of the gene that causes 
     Huntington's Disease in 1993, the pace of Huntington's 
     Disease research has accelerated;
       Whereas, although no effective treatment or cure currently 
     exists, scientists and researchers are hopeful that 
     breakthroughs will be forthcoming;
       Whereas researchers across the Nation are conducting 
     important research projects involving Huntington's Disease; 
     and
       Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise 
     awareness in the general public and the medical community of 
     Huntington's Disease: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 6, 2008, as ``National Huntington's 
     Disease Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes that all people of the United States should 
     become more informed and aware of Huntington's Disease; and
       (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Huntington's 
     Disease Society of America.

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