III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 255 

Designating May 2021 as ‘‘ALS Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 28 (legislative day, MAY 27), 2021 

Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. BRAUN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 2021 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 255 ATS 

Whereas approximately 10 percent of 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, slightly more than 5,600 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, between 2015 and 2040, the number of ALS cases 

around the world is expected to increase by nearly 70 

percent; 

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

Whereas, in the United States, military veterans may be up 

to twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general public; 


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•SRES 255 ATS 

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

there is no cure for ALS; 

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 2021 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 as soon as possible; 

9 (B) identifying risk factors and causes of 

10 ALS to prevent new cases; 

11 (C) empowering individuals with ALS to 

12 engage with the world in the way they want; 

13 (D) reducing the physical, emotional, and 

14 financial burdens of living with ALS; and 

15 (E) ensuring all individuals with ALS and 

16 their caregivers receive high quality services and 

17 supports that benefit them; and 


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•SRES 255 ATS 

1 (3) commends the dedication of the family 

2 members, friends, organizations, volunteers, re3 searchers, and caregivers across the United States 

4 that are working to improve the quality and length 

5 of life of ALS patients and the development of treat6 ments and cures that reach patients as soon as pos7 sible. 

Æ 


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