III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 91 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 3, 2011 

Mr. CASEY (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, and Mrs. HAGAN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 

Awareness Week. 

Whereas multiple sclerosis can impact men and women of all 

ages, races, and ethnicities; 

Whereas more than 400,000 Americans live with multiple 

sclerosis; 

Whereas approximately 2,100,000 people worldwide have 

been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; 

Whereas every hour of every day, someone is newly diagnosed 

with multiple sclerosis; 

Whereas an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 children and adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis; 

Whereas the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown; 


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•SRES 91 ATS 

Whereas the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are unpredictable 

and vary from person to person; 

Whereas there is no laboratory test available that definitively 

diagnoses a case of multiple sclerosis; 

Whereas multiple sclerosis is not genetic, contagious, or directly inherited, but studies show that there are genetic 

factors that indicate that certain individuals may be susceptible to the disease; 

Whereas multiple sclerosis symptoms occur when an immune 

system attack affects the myelin in nerve fibers of the 

central nervous system, damaging or destroying the myelin and replacing the myelin with scar tissue, thereby 

interfering with or preventing the transmission of nerve 

signals; 

Whereas in rare cases, multiple sclerosis is so progressive 

that the disease is fatal; 

Whereas there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis; 

Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, an affiliation of 

multiple sclerosis organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all those affected by multiple sclerosis, recognizes and celebrates Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is to 

increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater 

opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for 

the benefit of the multiple sclerosis community; 

Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition recognizes and celebrates Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week for 1 week in 

March of each year; 


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•SRES 91 ATS 

Whereas the goals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 

are— 

(1) to invite people to join the movement to end 

multiple sclerosis; 

(2) to encourage each individual in the United 

States to do something that demonstrates a commitment 

to moving toward a world free of multiple sclerosis; and 

(3) to acknowledge those individuals who have dedicated their time and talent to helping to promote multiple 

sclerosis research and programs; and 

Whereas in 2011, the week of March 14, 2011, through 

March 20, 2011, has been designated as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple 

3 Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

4 (2) encourages the States, territories, posses5 sions, and localities of the United States to support 

6 the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness 

7 Week by issuing proclamations designating Multiple 

8 Sclerosis Awareness Week; 

9 (3) encourages media organizations to partici10 pate in Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week by help11 ing to educate the public about multiple sclerosis; 

12 (4) commends the efforts of the States, terri13 tories, possessions, and localities of the United 

14 States that support the goals and ideals of Multiple 

15 Sclerosis Awareness Week; 


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•SRES 91 ATS 

1 (5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of 

2 the United States to creating a world free of mul3 tiple sclerosis by— 

4 (A) promoting awareness about people who 

5 are living with multiple sclerosis; and 

6 (B) promoting new education programs, 

7 supporting research, and expanding access to 

8 medical treatment; 

9 (6) recognizes all people in the United States 

10 living with multiple sclerosis and expresses gratitude 

11 to their family members and friends who are a 

12 source of love and encouragement to those individ13 uals; and 

14 (7) salutes the health care professionals and 

15 medical researchers who— 

16 (A) provide assistance to those individuals 

17 in the United States living with multiple scle18 rosis; and 

19 (B) continue to work to find ways to stop 

20 the progression of the disease, restore nerve 

21 function, and end multiple sclerosis forever. 

Æ 


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