[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DESIGNATING ``NATIONAL CHILDHOOD STROKE AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 163.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 163) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate with respect to childhood stroke and designating an 
     appropriate date as ``National Childhood Stroke Awareness 
     Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. 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; that there be no intervening action or debate; 
that any statements related to this resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 163) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 163

       Whereas a stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident, 
     is an acute neurologic injury that occurs when the blood 
     supply to a part of the brain is interrupted by a clot in the 
     artery or a burst of the artery;
       Whereas a stroke is a medical emergency that can cause 
     permanent neurologic damage or even death if not promptly 
     diagnosed and treated;
       Whereas 26 out of every 100,000 newborns and almost 3 out 
     of every 100,000 children have a stroke each year;
       Whereas an individual can have a stroke before birth;
       Whereas stroke is among the top 10 causes of death for 
     children in the United States;
       Whereas 9 percent of all children who experience a stroke 
     die as a result;
       Whereas stroke recurs in 20 percent of children who have 
     experienced a stroke;
       Whereas the death rate for children who experience a stroke 
     before the age of 1 year is the highest out of all age 
     groups;
       Whereas the average time from onset of symptoms to 
     diagnosis of stroke is 24 hours, putting many affected 
     children outside the window of 3 hours for the most 
     successful treatment;
       Whereas many children who experience a stroke will suffer 
     serious, long-term neurological disabilities, including--
       (1) hemiplegia, which is paralysis of 1 side of the body;
       (2) seizures;
       (3) speech and vision problems; and
       (4) learning difficulties;
       Whereas such disabilities may require ongoing physical 
     therapy and surgeries;
       Whereas the permanent health concerns and treatments 
     resulting from strokes that occur during childhood and young 
     adulthood have a considerable impact on children, families, 
     and society;
       Whereas very little is known about the cause, treatment, 
     and prevention of childhood stroke;
       Whereas medical research is the only means by which the 
     citizens of the United States can identify and develop 
     effective treatment and prevention strategies for childhood 
     stroke;
       Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of childhood stroke 
     greatly improves the chances that the affected child will 
     recover and not experience a recurrence; and
       Whereas The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia should be 
     commended for its initiative in creating the Nation's first 
     program dedicated to pediatric stroke patients: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of an appropriate date as 
     ``National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day''; and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to support the 
     efforts, programs, services, and advocacy of organizations 
     that work to enhance public awareness of childhood stroke.

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