III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 528 

Designating May 15, 2010, as ‘‘National MPS Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 14, 2010 

Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. 

SPECTER, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. BURR, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. 

BEGICH, and Mr. KERRY) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 15, 2010, as ‘‘National MPS Awareness 

Day’’. 

Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this resolution 

as ‘‘MPS’’) are a group of genetically determined 

lysosomal storage diseases that render the human body 

incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break 

down complex carbohydrates; 

Whereas MPS diseases cause complex carbohydrates to be 

stored in almost every cell in the body and progressively 

cause cellular damage; 

Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS— 

(1) adversely affects the human body by damaging 

the heart, respiratory system, bones, internal organs, and 

central nervous system; and 


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•SRES 528 ATS 

(2) 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 symptoms of MPS are 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 research has resulted in the development of limited 

treatments for some MPS diseases; 

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

the date of agreement to this resolution; 

Whereas, despite the creation of new remedies, the bloodbrain barrier continues to be a significant impediment to 

effectively treating the brain, which prevents 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 of the individuals afflicted with 

MPS, and the treatments available to those individuals, 

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 individuals within the medical community; 


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•SRES 528 ATS 

Whereas the cellular damage that is caused by MPS makes 

MPS 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; and 

Whereas the Senate is an institution that has the ability— 

(1) to raise public awareness about MPS; and 

(2) to encourage and facilitate increased public and 

private sector research for the early diagnosis and treatment of MPS diseases: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates May 15, 2010, 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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