III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 191 

Designating June 2011 as ‘‘National Aphasia Awareness Month’’ and 

supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 19, 2011 

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 2011 as ‘‘National Aphasia Awareness 

Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase awareness 

of aphasia. 

Whereas aphasia is a communication impairment caused by 

brain damage that typically results from a stroke; 

Whereas aphasia can also occur with other neurological disorders, such as a brain tumor; 

Whereas many people with aphasia also have weakness or paralysis in the right leg and right arm, usually due to 

damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls language and movement on the right side of the 

body; 

Whereas the effects of aphasia may include a loss of, or reduction in, the ability to speak, comprehend, read, and 


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•SRES 191 IS 

write, but the intelligence of a person with aphasia remains intact; 

Whereas according to the National Institute of Neurological 

Disorders and Stroke (referred to in this preamble as the 

‘‘NINDS’’), stroke is the third-leading cause of death in 

the United States, ranking behind heart disease and cancer; 

Whereas stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States; 

Whereas the NINDS estimates that there are approximately 

5,000,000 stroke survivors in the United States; 

Whereas the NINDS estimates that people in the United 

States suffer approximately 750,000 strokes per year, 

with about 1⁄3 of the strokes resulting in aphasia; 

Whereas according to the NINDS, aphasia affects at least 

1,000,000 people in the United States; 

Whereas the NINDS estimates that more than 200,000 people in the United States acquire aphasia each year; 

Whereas the National Aphasia Association is a unique organization that strives to promote public education, research, rehabilitation, and support services for the general public, people with aphasia, and aphasia caregivers 

throughout the United States; and 

Whereas as an advocacy organization for people with aphasia 

and their caregivers, the National Aphasia Association 

envisions a world that recognizes the ‘‘silent’’ disability of 

aphasia and provides opportunity and fulfillment for people affected by aphasia: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 191 IS 

1 (1) designates June 2011 as ‘‘National Aphasia 

2 Awareness Month’’; 

3 (2) supports efforts to increase awareness of 

4 aphasia; 

5 (3) recognizes that strokes, a primary cause of 

6 aphasia, are the third-largest cause of death and dis7 ability in the United States; 

8 (4) acknowledges that aphasia deserves more 

9 attention and study to find new solutions for individ10 uals experiencing aphasia and their caregivers; 

11 (5) supports efforts to make the voices of peo12 ple with aphasia heard, because people with aphasia 

13 are often unable to communicate with others; and 

14 (6) encourages all people in the United States 

15 to observe National Aphasia Awareness Month with 

16 appropriate events and activities. 

Æ 


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