[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 601--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2016 AS ``NATIONAL 
 DYSTONIA AWARENESS MONTH'' AND RAISING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF 
                        THE DISORDER OF DYSTONIA

  Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 601

       Whereas National Dystonia Awareness Month will raise public 
     awareness and understanding of the disorder of dystonia, 
     which has numerous manifestations affecting people of all 
     ages, races, genders, and backgrounds;
       Whereas National Dystonia Awareness Month will also foster 
     understanding of the impact the various forms of dystonia 
     have on the individuals who are affected and the families of 
     those individuals;
       Whereas dystonia is a neurological disorder presenting in 
     various forms, characterized by involuntary muscle 
     contractions that cause abnormal and often repetitive 
     movements or postures;
       Whereas symptoms of dystonia may impede the ability of an 
     individual--
       (1) to walk, as in generalized dystonia or limb dystonia;
       (2) to control the posture of the head of the individual, 
     as in cervical dystonia;
       (3) to speak, as in spasmodic dysphonia or oromandibular 
     dystonia;
       (4) to see, as in blepharospasm; or
       (5) to write, as in hand dystonia;
       Whereas there are limited treatments and no cure for 
     dystonia;
       Whereas dystonia is commonly misdiagnosed, delaying access 
     to appropriate medical care for those individuals who are 
     affected;
       Whereas countless friends, loved ones, spouses, and 
     caregivers must shoulder the physical, emotional, and 
     financial burdens that dystonia causes;
       Whereas the severity of the symptoms of dystonia and the 
     limited public awareness of the disease cause many patients 
     to be isolated;
       Whereas the dystonia community is uniting to cooperate on 
     awareness efforts throughout September of 2016; and
       Whereas the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research 
     Foundation, Dystonia, Inc., the Dystonia Medical Research 
     Foundation, the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association, and 
     the National Spasmodic Torticollis Association are dedicated 
     to--
       (1) conducting research to find treatments and a cure for 
     dystonia;
       (2) fostering public awareness and understanding of 
     dystonia;
       (3) educating patients and their families about dystonia to 
     improve the treatment of and care for patients; and
       (4) providing support and encouraging individuals to become 
     advocates, including by sponsoring annual patient education 
     conferences, school-based educational programs, and local 
     events to raise funds for dystonia research, education, 
     advocacy, and awareness: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2016 as ``National Dystonia 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Dystonia 
     Awareness Month to raise public awareness and understanding 
     of dystonia;
       (3) recognizes the need for additional research to find a 
     cure for all forms of dystonia; and
       (4) encourages all people in the United States and 
     interested groups to support National Dystonia Awareness 
     Month through various appropriate ceremonies and activities--
       (A) to promote public awareness of dystonia; and
       (B) to foster the understanding of the impact of dystonia 
     on patients and their families.

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