[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 524--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
                     STUTTERING AWARENESS WEEK 2010

  Mr. KAUFMAN (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. 
Burris, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cornyn, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Gregg, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Isakson, Mr. LeMieux, 
Mr. Levin, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Mr. Sessions, 
Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
Whitehouse, and Mr. Udall of New Mexico) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 524

       Whereas an estimated 3,000,000 Americans are affected by 
     stuttering;
       Whereas stuttering is a communication disorder experienced 
     by children and adults alike;
       Whereas individuals who stutter frequently experience 
     embarrassment, anxiety about speaking, and physical tension 
     in their speech muscles;
       Whereas many different types of stuttering exist, and the 
     symptoms of stuttering can range from mild to severe;
       Whereas the cause of stuttering is unknown, but research 
     suggests stuttering may be genetic;
       Whereas stuttering commonly begins in children between the 
     ages of 2 and 5;
       Whereas parents are encouraged to consult with 
     pediatricians or qualified speech-language pathologists as 
     soon as stuttering becomes apparent in a child in order to 
     take advantage of early-intervention therapies;
       Whereas it is known that stuttering is not--
       (1) a nervous disorder;
       (2) the result of emotional problems; or
       (3) the fault of the individual who stutters or the family 
     of that individual;
       Whereas a 2009 survey by the National Stuttering 
     Association found that--
       (1) 40 percent of adults and teenagers who stutter feel 
     that they have been denied a job, a promotion, or a school 
     opportunity as a result of stuttering; and
       (2) 8 out of 10 children who stutter report being bullied 
     or teased;
       Whereas many individuals who stutter do not have access to 
     qualified speech-language pathologists or helpful resources;
       Whereas several treatments for stuttering exist that can 
     help individuals who stutter learn to speak more easily and 
     gain confidence in themselves and their ability to 
     communicate effectively;
       Whereas organizations like the National Stuttering 
     Association have been working for many years to raise 
     awareness about stuttering, the effect stuttering has on the 
     lives of individuals who stutter, available treatment 
     options, and research being conducted to investigate the 
     causes of stuttering;
       Whereas, on April 13, 1988, the President of the United 
     States signed a proclamation designating the week of May 9 
     through 16 of that year as National Stuttering Awareness 
     Week;
       Whereas since 1988, individuals who stutter and the 
     families and friends of those individuals, as well as medical 
     practitioners, speech language pathologists, researchers, and 
     others have marked the second week of May as National 
     Stuttering Awareness Week; and
       Whereas the goals of the National Stuttering Awareness Week 
     2010 include increasing awareness among the people of the 
     United States about stuttering and educating the people of 
     the United States about ways to improve the lives of those 
     who stutter: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Stuttering 
     Awareness Week 2010; and
       (2) encourages all of the people of the United States to 
     learn more about stuttering and ways to help individuals who 
     stutter feel more confident and comfortable speaking with 
     others.

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