III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 239 

Designating May 2023 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 7, 2023 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. COONS, Mr. BRAUN, 

Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MARSHALL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. COTTON, Mr. 

MERKLEY, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 2023 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘ALS’’) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal 

cord; 

Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is between 2 and 5 years after the date on which the individual receives an ALS diagnosis; 

Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, 

ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries; 

Whereas ALS may affect any individual in any location; 

Whereas the cause of ALS is unknown in up to 90 percent 

of cases; 


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•SRES 239 ATS 

Whereas approximately 10 percent of ALS cases have a 

strong known genetic driver; 

Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which 

an individual first experiences symptoms of ALS and the 

date on which the individual is diagnosed with ALS is 

more than 1 year; 

Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or 

stiffness, and the progression of ALS results in the further weakening, wasting, and paralysis of— 

(1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and 

(2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as 

speech, swallowing, and breathing; 

Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age, but it predominantly strikes adults; 

Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of individuals 

in the United States have ALS at any given time; 

Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United 

States, more than 5,000 individuals in the United States 

are diagnosed with ALS each year, and 15 individuals in 

the United States are diagnosed with ALS each day; 

Whereas, every 90 minutes, someone dies from ALS in the 

United States; 

Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of respiratory failure; 

Whereas, in the United States, military veterans are more 

likely to be diagnosed with ALS than individuals with no 

history of military service; 

Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, 

there is no cure for ALS; 


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•SRES 239 ATS 

Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of individuals living with ALS provide support to those individuals with love, day-to-day care, and more; and 

Whereas an individual with ALS, and the caregivers of such 

an individual, can be required to bear significant costs 

for medical care, equipment, and home care services for 

the individual as the disease progresses: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates May 2023 as ‘‘ALS Awareness 

3 Month’’; 

4 (2) affirms the dedication of the Senate to— 

5 (A) ensuring individuals with amyotrophic 

6 lateral sclerosis (referred to in this resolving 

7 clause as ‘‘ALS’’) have access to effective treat8 ments and high quality services and supports as 

9 early as possible after diagnosis; 

10 (B) identifying risk factors and causes of 

11 ALS to prevent new cases; 

12 (C) empowering individuals with ALS to 

13 engage with the world in the way they want; 

14 and 

15 (D) reducing the physical and emotional 

16 burdens of living with ALS; and 

17 (3) commends the dedication of the family 

18 members, friends, organizations, volunteers, re19 searchers, and caregivers across the United States 


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•SRES 239 ATS 

1 who are working to improve the quality and length 

2 of life of ALS patients and the development of treat3 ments and cures that reach patients as soon as pos4 sible. 

Æ 


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