[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 90 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 713--DESIGNATING MAY 2024 AS ``ALS AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
Merkley, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Cotton) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 713

       Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``ALS'') is a progressive neurodegenerative 
     disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal 
     cord;
       Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is 
     between 2 and 5 years after the date on which the individual 
     receives an ALS diagnosis;
       Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, 
     ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries;
       Whereas ALS may affect any individual in any location;
       Whereas the cause of ALS is unknown in up to 90 percent of 
     cases;
       Whereas approximately 10 percent of ALS cases have a strong 
     known genetic driver;
       Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which 
     an individual first experiences symptoms of ALS and the date 
     on which the individual is diagnosed with ALS is more than 1 
     year;
       Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or 
     stiffness, and the progression of ALS results in the further 
     weakening, wasting, and paralysis of--
       (1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and
       (2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as 
     speech, swallowing, and breathing;
       Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age, but it 
     predominantly strikes adults;
       Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of 
     individuals in the United States have ALS at any given time;
       Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United 
     States, more than 5,000 individuals in the United States are 
     diagnosed with ALS each year, and approximately 15 
     individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each 
     day;
       Whereas every 90 minutes someone dies from ALS in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of 
     respiratory failure;
       Whereas, in the United States, military veterans are more 
     likely to be diagnosed with ALS than individuals with no 
     history of military service;
       Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, 
     there is no cure for ALS;
       Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of 
     individuals living with ALS provide support to those 
     individuals with love, day-to-day care, and more; and
       Whereas an individual with ALS, and the caregivers of such 
     individual, can be required to bear significant costs for 
     medical care, equipment, and home care services for the 
     individual as the disease progresses: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 2024 as ``ALS Awareness Month'';
       (2) affirms the dedication of the Senate to--
       (A) ensuring individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 
     (referred to in this resolution as ``ALS'') have access to 
     effective treatments as soon as possible;
       (B) identifying risk factors and causes of ALS to prevent 
     new cases;
       (C) empowering individuals with ALS to engage with the 
     world in the way they want;
       (D) acknowledging the physical, emotional, and financial 
     burdens of living with ALS; and
       (E) ensuring all individuals with ALS and their caregivers 
     receive high quality services and supports that benefit them; 
     and
       (3) commends the dedication of the family members, friends, 
     organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers across 
     the United States who are working to improve the quality and 
     length of life of ALS patients and develop treatments and 
     cures that reach patients as soon as possible.

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