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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 405 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 405

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that observing a 
Movement Disorders Awareness Month would promote awareness, diagnosis, 
                   and advocacy concerning the issue.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2005

  Mr. Davis of Illinois submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that observing a 
Movement Disorders Awareness Month would promote awareness, diagnosis, 
                   and advocacy concerning the issue.

Whereas movement disorders are chronic and often debilitating conditions that 
        are caused by damage to, or malfunction in, specific regions of the 
        brain and nervous system that are responsible for voluntary and 
        involuntary movements, the cause of which is mostly unknown;
Whereas there are more than 30 neurological conditions that may be classified as 
        movement disorders, and these include restless legs syndrome, dystonia, 
        spasticity, Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, ataxia, progressive 
        supranuclear palsy, Rett syndrome, tics, Tourette's syndrome, 
        Huntington's disease, and others;
Whereas symptoms of movement disorders include slow or irregular movement; 
        tremor-like movement; changes in coordination, voice or vision, movement 
        patterns, posture or position, and sensory perception; and sleep 
        disturbance;
Whereas movement disorders affect more than 40 million Americans;
Whereas movement disorders are generally not well-recognized or understood, and 
        symptoms may go unnoticed or be confused by medical professionals;
Whereas a patient with a movement disorder may visit more than 15 doctors over 
        the course of five years before receiving an accurate diagnosis;
Whereas proper diagnosis can lead to effective treatment;
Whereas with the establishment of a Movement Disorders Awareness Month, 
        nonprofit groups, including WE MOVE, would work with patient advocacy 
        groups and foundations, as well as professional medical associations and 
        societies, to create awareness of the month and would create topical 
        educational forums and generate media interest surrounding all movement 
        disorders and the awareness month;
Whereas observing such Month would raise public awareness about these chronic 
        conditions and encourage earlier diagnosis, leading to up-to-date 
        treatment and resulting in a better quality of life for individuals 
        affected by movement disorders; and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe October 2005 as Movement Disorders 
        Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and 
ideals of Movement Disorders Awareness Month, and it is the sense of 
the House that observing such Month would--
            (1) prick the public consciousness regarding the chronic 
        disorders and difficulties that accompany these disorders;
            (2) inform individuals living with these disorders of 
        treatment options for an enhanced quality of life;
            (3) promote open forums during this month to educate the 
        public about movement disorders;
            (4) affirm our commitment to families and individuals 
        affected by motion disorders; and
            (5) facilitate continued research of motion disorders in 
        the people of the United States.
                                 <all>
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