[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 91--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF MULTIPLE 
                        SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. CASEY (for himself, Ms. Snowe, and Mrs. Hagan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 91

       Whereas multiple sclerosis can impact men and women of all 
     ages, races, and ethnicities;
       Whereas more than 400,000 Americans live with multiple 
     sclerosis;
       Whereas approximately 2,100,000 people worldwide have been 
     diagnosed with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas every hour of every day, someone is newly diagnosed 
     with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 children and 
     adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still 
     unknown;
       Whereas the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are 
     unpredictable and vary from person to person;
       Whereas there is no laboratory test available that 
     definitively diagnoses a case of multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas multiple sclerosis is not genetic, contagious, or 
     directly inherited, but studies show that there are genetic 
     factors that indicate that certain individuals may be 
     susceptible to the disease;
       Whereas multiple sclerosis symptoms occur when an immune 
     system attack affects the myelin in nerve fibers of the 
     central nervous system, damaging or destroying the myelin and 
     replacing the myelin with scar tissue, thereby interfering 
     with or preventing the transmission of nerve signals;
       Whereas in rare cases, multiple sclerosis is so progressive 
     that the disease is fatal;
       Whereas there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, an affiliation of 
     multiple sclerosis organizations dedicated to the enhancement 
     of the quality of life for all those affected by multiple 
     sclerosis, recognizes and celebrates Multiple Sclerosis 
     Awareness Week;
       Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is 
     to increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater 
     opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for 
     the benefit of the multiple sclerosis community;
       Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition recognizes and 
     celebrates Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week for 1 week in 
     March of each year;
       Whereas the goals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 
     are--
       (1) to invite people to join the movement to end multiple 
     sclerosis;
       (2) to encourage each individual in the United States to do 
     something that demonstrates a commitment to moving toward a 
     world free of multiple sclerosis; and
       (3) to acknowledge those individuals who have dedicated 
     their time and talent to helping to promote multiple 
     sclerosis research and programs; and
       Whereas in 2011, the week of March 14, 2011, through March 
     20, 2011, has been designated as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness 
     Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 
     Awareness Week;
       (2) encourages the States, territories, possessions, and 
     localities of the United States to support the goals and 
     ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week by issuing 
     proclamations designating Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
       (3) encourages media organizations to participate in 
     Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week by helping to educate the 
     public about multiple sclerosis;
       (4) commends the efforts of the States, territories, 
     possessions, and localities of the United States that support 
     the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
       (5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the United 
     States to creating a world free of multiple sclerosis by--
       (A) promoting awareness about people who are living with 
     multiple sclerosis; and
       (B) promoting new education programs, supporting research, 
     and expanding access to medical treatment;
       (6) recognizes all people in the United States living with 
     multiple sclerosis and expresses gratitude to their family 
     members and friends who are a source of love and 
     encouragement to those individuals; and
       (7) salutes the health care professionals and medical 
     researchers who--
       (A) provide assistance to those individuals in the United 
     States living with multiple sclerosis; and
       (B) continue to work to find ways to stop the progression 
     of the disease, restore nerve function, and end multiple 
     sclerosis forever.

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