III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 503 

Designating June 2012 as ‘‘National Aphasia Awareness Month’’ and 

supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 25, 2012 

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. KIRK) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 2012 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 503 ATS 

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’’), strokes are the third-leading cause of death 

in the United States, ranking behind heart disease and 

cancer; 

Whereas strokes are 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 people of the United States should strive to 

learn more about aphasia and to promote research, rehabilitation, and support services for people with aphasia 

and aphasia caregivers throughout the United States; 

and 

Whereas people with aphasia and their caregivers envision 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— 

2 (1) designates June 2012 as ‘‘National Aphasia 

3 Awareness Month’’; 


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1 (2) supports efforts to increase awareness of 

2 aphasia; 

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

4 aphasia, are the third-largest cause of death and dis5 ability in the United States; 

6 (4) acknowledges that aphasia deserves more 

7 attention and study to find new solutions for people 

8 experiencing aphasia and their caregivers; 

9 (5) supports efforts to make the voices of peo10 ple with aphasia heard, because people with aphasia 

11 are often unable to communicate with others; and 

12 (6) encourages all people in the United States 

13 to observe National Aphasia Awareness Month with 

14 appropriate events and activities. 

Æ 


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