III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 98 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 4, 2015 

Mr. CASEY (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. COONS, 

Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. MARKEY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 

Awareness Week. 

Whereas multiple sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as 

‘‘MS’’) can impact people of all ages, races, and 

ethnicities, but is at least 2 to 3 times more common in 

women than in men; 

Whereas there are approximately 2,300,000 people worldwide 

who have been diagnosed with MS; 

Whereas MS is typically diagnosed in individuals between the 

ages of 20 and 50, however it is estimated that between 

8,000 and 10,000 children and adolescents are living 

with MS in the United States; 


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Whereas MS is an unpredictable neurological disease that 

interrupts the flow of information both within the brain 

and between the brain and the rest of the body; 

Whereas symptoms of MS range from numbness and tingling 

in the extremities to blindness and paralysis, and the 

progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any 

one person cannot yet be predicted; 

Whereas there is no laboratory test available that can definitively diagnose MS; 

Whereas while MS is not directly inherited, studies show that 

there are genetic and, probably, environmental factors 

that make certain individuals, such as Caucasians of 

Northern European ancestry, more susceptible to the disease than others; 

Whereas the exact cause of MS is still unknown and there 

is no cure; 

Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, a national network 

of independent MS organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all those affected by 

MS, recognizes and supports Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is to 

increase opportunities for cooperation among MS organizations and provide greater opportunity for the effective 

use and development of resources for the benefit of individuals and families affected by MS; 

Whereas the United States plays a critical role in coordinating MS research globally and amplifies the impact of 

research in the United States through which results are 

delivered to MS patients; 


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Whereas in 2012, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of 

the United States was a founding member of the Progressive MS Alliance, which coordinates research to accelerate the development of treatments for progressive MS 

by removing international scientific and technological 

barriers, and which now includes MS societies from 11 

countries; 

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 

to invite people to join the movement to end MS, encourage everyone to do something to demonstrate their commitment to moving toward a world free of MS, and to acknowledge those who have dedicated their time and talent 

to help promote MS research and programs; and 

Whereas this year, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is recognized during the week of March 2, 2015, through 

March 8, 2015: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple 

3 Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

4 (2) encourages States, localities, and the terri5 tories and possessions of the United States to sup6 port the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 

7 Awareness Week by issuing proclamations desig8 nating Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

9 (3) encourages media organizations to partici10 pate in Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and help 


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1 provide education to the public about multiple scle2 rosis; 

3 (4) commends the efforts of States, localities, 

4 and the territories and possessions of the United 

5 States to support the goals and ideals of Multiple 

6 Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

7 (5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of 

8 the United States to ending multiple sclerosis by— 

9 (A) promoting awareness about individuals 

10 that are affected by multiple sclerosis; and 

11 (B) supporting multiple sclerosis research 

12 and education programs; 

13 (6) recognizes all individuals in the United 

14 States living with multiple sclerosis; 

15 (7) expresses gratitude to the family members 

16 and friends of individuals living with multiple scle17 rosis, who are a source of love and encouragement 

18 to those individuals; and 

19 (8) salutes the health care professionals and 

20 medical researchers who— 

21 (A) provide assistance to individuals af22 fected by multiple sclerosis; and 


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1 (B) continue to work to find ways to stop 

2 the progression of the disease, restore nerve 

3 function, and end multiple sclerosis forever. 

Æ 


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