III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 143 

Designating May 15, 2009, as ‘‘National MPS Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 12, 2009 

Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, 

Mr. CONRAD, Mr. BURR, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 15, 2009, as ‘‘National MPS Awareness 

Day’’. 

Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this resolution 

as ‘‘MPS’’) is a genetically determined lysosomal storage 

disease that renders the human body incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break down complex 

carbohydrates; 

Whereas complex carbohydrates are then stored in almost 

every cell in the body and progressively cause damage to 

such cells; 

Whereas such cell damage adversely affects the human body 

by damaging the heart, respiratory system, bones, internal organs, and central nervous system; 


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•SRES 143 ATS 

Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS often results in 

mental retardation, short stature, corneal damage, joint 

stiffness, loss of mobility, speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity, chronic respiratory 

problems, and, most importantly, a drastically shortened 

life span; 

Whereas the nature of the disease is usually not apparent at 

birth; 

Whereas, without treatment, the life expectancy of an individual afflicted with MPS begins to decrease at a very 

early stage in the life of the individual; 

Whereas recent research developments have resulted in the 

creation of limited treatments for some MPS diseases; 

Whereas promising advancements in the pursuit of treatments for additional MPS diseases are underway; 

Whereas, despite the creation of newly developed remedies, 

the blood-brain barrier continues to be a significant impediment to effectively treating the brain, thereby preventing the treatment of many of the symptoms of MPS; 

Whereas treatments for MPS will be greatly enhanced with 

continued public funding; 

Whereas the quality of life for individuals afflicted with MPS, 

and the treatments available to them, will be enhanced 

through the development of early detection techniques 

and early intervention; 

Whereas treatments and research advancements for MPS are 

limited by a lack of awareness about MPS diseases; 

Whereas the lack of awareness about MPS diseases extends 

to those within the medical community; 


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•SRES 143 ATS 

Whereas the damage that is caused by MPS makes it a model 

for the study of many other degenerative genetic diseases; 

Whereas the development of effective therapies and a potential cure for MPS diseases can be accomplished by increased awareness, research, data collection, and information distribution; 

Whereas the Senate is an institution than can raise public 

awareness about MPS; and 

Whereas the Senate is also an institution that can assist in 

encouraging and facilitating increased public and private 

sector research for early diagnosis and treatments of 

MPS diseases: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates May 15, 2009, as ‘‘National 

3 MPS Awareness Day’’; and 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

5 MPS Awareness Day’’. 

Æ 


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