III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 601 

Designating September 2016 as ‘‘National Dystonia Awareness Month’’ and 

raising awareness and understanding of the disorder of dystonia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 

Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. MERKLEY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2016 as ‘‘National Dystonia Awareness Month’’ and raising awareness and understanding 

of the disorder of dystonia. 

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; 


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•SRES 601 ATS 

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; 


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•SRES 601 ATS 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2016 as ‘‘National 

3 Dystonia Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

5 Dystonia Awareness Month to raise public awareness 

6 and understanding of dystonia; 

7 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 

8 to find a cure for all forms of dystonia; and 

9 (4) encourages all people in the United States 

10 and interested groups to support National Dystonia 

11 Awareness Month through various appropriate cere12 monies and activities— 

13 (A) to promote public awareness of 

14 dystonia; and 

15 (B) to foster the understanding of the im16 pact of dystonia on patients and their families. 

Æ 


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