[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 73 (Monday, May 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 468--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
TO CHILDHOOD STROKE AND RECOGNIZING MAY AS ``NATIONAL PEDIATRIC STROKE 
                           AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Chambliss) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 468

       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 stroke occurs in approximately 1 out of every 4,000 
     live births, and the risk of stroke from birth through age 18 
     is nearly 11 out of every 100,000 children per 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 between 20 percent and 40 percent of children who 
     suffer 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 between 50 and 85 percent of infants and children 
     who have a pediatric stroke will have serious, permanent 
     neurological disabilities, including paralysis, seizures, 
     speech and vision problems, and attention, learning, and 
     behavioral difficulties;
       Whereas those 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 pediatric 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 pediatric 
     stroke; and
       Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric stroke 
     greatly improves the chances that the affected child will 
     recover and not experience a recurrence: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) acknowledges May as ``National Pediatric Stroke 
     Awareness Month'';
       (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;
       (3) supports the work of the National Institutes of Health 
     in pursuit of medical progress on the matter of pediatric 
     stroke; and
       (4) urges continued coordination and cooperation between 
     government, researchers, families, and the public to improve 
     treatments and prognoses for children who suffer strokes.

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