[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3467]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to consideration of S. Res. 396.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 396) supporting the goals and ideals 
     of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Ayotte 
be added as a cosponsor of this legislation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements related to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 396) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 396

       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 it is estimated that between 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 certain individuals are 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 supports 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 
     supports Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week during March of 
     every calendar 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 everyone to do something that demonstrates 
     a commitment to moving toward a world free of multiple 
     sclerosis; and
       (3) to acknowledge those who have dedicated their time and 
     talent to help promote multiple sclerosis research and 
     programs; and

       Whereas in 2012, the week of March 12, 2012, through March 
     18, 2012, 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 and to help educate the 
     public about multiple sclerosis;
       (4) commends the efforts of the States, territories, and 
     possessions 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 affected with 
     multiple sclerosis; and
       (B) promoting new education programs, supporting research, 
     and expanding access to medical treatment; and
       (6) expresses gratitude to the family members and friends 
     of those people in the United States living with multiple 
     sclerosis who are a source of love and encouragement to those 
     individuals; and
       (7) salutes the health care professionals and medical 
     researchers who provide assistance to those individuals 
     affected with multiple sclerosis and 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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