IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 271

Expressing the support of Congress for activities to increase public awareness

of multiple sclerosis.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 8, 2000

Mr. WEYGAND submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the support of Congress for activities to increase

public awareness of multiple sclerosis.

Whereas multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling

disease of the central nervous system which often first

appears in people between the ages of 20 and 40, with

lifelong physical and emotional effects;

Whereas multiple sclerosis is twice as common in women as

in men;

Whereas an estimated 250,000 to 350,000 individuals suffer

from multiple sclerosis nationally;

Whereas symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be mild, such as

numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or

loss of vision;
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Whereas the progress, severity, and specific symptoms of

multiple sclerosis in any one person cannot yet be predicted;

Whereas the annual cost to each affected individual averages

$34,000, and the total cost can exceed $2 million over an

individual’s lifetime;

Whereas the annual cost of treating all people who suffer

from multiple sclerosis in the United States is nearly $9

billion;

Whereas the cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown,

but genetic factors are believed to play a role in determining a person’s risk for developing multiple sclerosis;

Whereas many of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be

treated with medications and rehabilitative therapy;

Whereas new treatments exist that can slow the course of the

disease, and reduce its severity;

Whereas medical experts recommend that all people newly diagnosed with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis begin

disease-modifying therapy;

Whereas finding the genes responsible for susceptibility to

multiple sclerosis may lead to the development of new

and more effective ways to treat the disease;

Whereas increased funding for the National Institutes of

Health would provide the opportunity for research and

the creation of programs to increase awareness, prevention, and education; and

Whereas Congress as an institution, and Members of Congress as individuals, are in unique positions to help raise

public awareness about the detection and treatment of
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multiple sclerosis and to support the fight against multiple sclerosis: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) all Americans should take an active role in

4 the fight to end the devastating effects of multiple

5 sclerosis on individuals, their families, and the econ6 omy;

7 (2) the role played by national and community

8 organizations and health care professionals in pro9 moting the importance of continued funding for re10 search, and in providing information about and ac11 cess to the best medical treatment and support serv12 ices for people with multiple sclerosis should be rec13 ognized and applauded;

14 (3) the Federal Government has a responsibility

15 to—

16 (A) continue to fund research so that the

17 causes of, and improved treatment for, multiple

18 sclerosis may be discovered;

19 (B) continue to consider ways to improve

20 access to, and the quality of, health care serv21 ices for people with multiple sclerosis;

22 (C) endeavor to raise public awareness

23 about the symptoms of multiple sclerosis; and
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1 (D) endeavor to raise health professional’s

2 awareness about diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

3 and the best course of treatment for people

4 with the disease.

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