[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 77 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3961-S3962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 162--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
 TO CHILDHOOD STROKE AND RECOGNIZING MAY 2013 AS ``NATIONAL PEDIATRIC 
                        STROKE AWARENESS MONTH''

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

                              S. Res. 162

       Whereas a stroke, also known as cerebrovascular disease, 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 3,500 
     live births, and has an overall annual incidence of 4.6 per 
     100,000 children age 19 and under;
       Whereas a stroke can occur before birth;
       Whereas stroke is among the top 12 causes of death for 
     children between the ages of 1 and 14 in the United States;
       Whereas 20 to 40 percent of children who have suffered a 
     stroke die as a result;
       Whereas stroke recurs within 5 years in 10 percent of 
     children who have had an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke;
       Whereas the death rate for children who experience a stroke 
     before the age of 1 year is the highest out of all child age 
     groups;
       Whereas there are no approved therapies for the treatment 
     of acute stroke in infants and children;
       Whereas approximately 60 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 not enough is known about the cause, treatment, and 
     prevention of pediatric stroke;
       Whereas medical research is the only means by which the 
     people 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) recognizes May 2013 as ``National Pediatric Stroke 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) urges the people of the United States to support the 
     efforts, programs, services, and organizations that work to 
     enhance public awareness of pediatric 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 
     the Federal Government, State and local governments, 
     researchers, families, and the public to improve treatments 
     and prognoses for children who suffer strokes.

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