[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 48--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
 ``NATIONAL EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH'' AND URGING FUNDING FOR EPILEPSY 
                     RESEARCH AND SERVICE PROGRAMS

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Craig, Ms. Landrieu, Ms. 
Cantwell, and Mr. DeWine) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 48

       Whereas epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes 
     seizures and affects 2,300,000 people in the United States;
       Whereas a seizure is a disturbance in the electrical 
     activity of the brain, and 1 in every 12 Americans will 
     suffer at least 1 seizure;
       Whereas 180,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy are 
     diagnosed each year, and 3 percent of Americans will develop 
     epilepsy by the time they are 75;
       Whereas 41 percent of people who currently have epilepsy 
     experience persistent seizures despite the treatment they are 
     receiving;
       Whereas a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention demonstrated that the hardships 
     imposed by epilepsy are comparable to those imposed by 
     cancer, diabetes, and arthritis;
       Whereas epilepsy in older children and adults remains a 
     formidable barrier to leading a normal life by affecting 
     education, employment, marriage, childbearing, and personal 
     fulfillment;
       Whereas uncontrollable seizures in a child can create 
     multiple problems affecting the child's development, 
     education, socialization, and daily life activities;
       Whereas the social stigma surrounding epilepsy continues to 
     fuel discrimination, and isolates people who suffer from 
     seizure disorders from mainstream life;
       Whereas in spite of these formidable obstacles, people with 
     epilepsy can live healthy and productive lives and make 
     significant contributions to society;
       Whereas November is an appropriate month to designate as 
     ``National Epilepsy Awareness Month'';
       Whereas the designation of a ``National Epilepsy Awareness 
     Month'' would help to focus attention on, and increase 
     understanding of, epilepsy and those people who suffer from 
     it: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of a ``National Epilepsy 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation 
     declaring an annual ``National Epilepsy Awareness Month'';
       (3) calls upon the American people to observe ``National 
     Epilepsy Awareness Month'' with appropriate programs and 
     activities;
       (4) urges an increase in funding for epilepsy research 
     programs at the National Institutes of Health and at the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
       (5) urges that initial funding be provided to the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration of the Department of 
     Health and Human Services to create demonstration projects to 
     serve people with epilepsy who may lack access to adequate 
     medical care for the treatment of such disease.

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