IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 896 

Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and 

an eventual cure for primary lateral sclerosis, supporting the goals and 

ideals of the Hardy Brown Primary Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 19, 2007 

Mr. BACA submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, 

a treatment, and an eventual cure for primary lateral 

sclerosis, supporting the goals and ideals of the Hardy 

Brown Primary Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle 

spasticity and weakness in the voluntary muscles; 

Whereas PLS belongs to a group of disorders known as 

motor neuron diseases. Motor neuron diseases develop 

when the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement degenerate and die, causing spasticity and weakness 

in the muscles they control; 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 896 IH 

Whereas Hardy Brown is the co-publisher of the Black Voice 

News, a weekly newspaper that fights against social injustice in the Inland Empire in California, has worked 

tirelessly to raise funds for research for ALS ‘‘Lou 

Gehrig’s disease’’ which is a fatal motor neuron disease, 

and is now diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis; 

Whereas the onset of PLS usually occurs after age 50. Symptoms may include difficulty with balance, weakness and 

stiffness in the legs, and clumsiness. Other symptoms 

may include spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle 

spasms) in the hands, feet, or legs; foot dragging, and 

speech problems due to involvement of the facial muscles; 

Whereas primary lateral sclerosis affects individual people in 

different ways, and as a result, treatment programs will 

vary; 

Whereas there currently is no cure for primary lateral sclerosis, nor a way to slow or reverse the progressive disability of this disorder; 

Whereas the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation is a volunteermanaged and operated non-profit organization devoted to 

finding the causes and cures for two groups of 

neurodegenerative disorders called Spastic Paraplegia 

(Hereditary and Apparently Sporadic) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS); 

Whereas the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and 

Stroke at the National Institutes of Health conducts a 

broad range of research on neuromuscular disorders such 

as PLS. This research is aimed at developing techniques 

to diagnose, treat, prevent, and ultimately cure these devastating diseases; 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 896 IH 

Whereas ‘‘Hardy Brown disease’’ would be an appropriate 

eponym for primary lateral sclerosis disease; and 

Whereas in conjunction with Black History Month, the month 

of February of 2008 would be an appropriate time to recognize Hardy Brown Primary Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in order to educate communities across the 

Nation about primary lateral sclerosis and the need for 

research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into 

3 the causes, treatment, and an eventual cure for pri4 mary lateral sclerosis; 

5 (2) commends those hospitals, community clin6 ics, educational institutes, and other organizations 

7 that are— 

8 (A) working to increase awareness of pri9 mary lateral sclerosis; and 

10 (B) conducting research for methods to 

11 help patients suffering from primary lateral 

12 sclerosis; 

13 (3) congratulates the work of the Spastic Para14 plegia Foundation for its great efforts to educate, 

15 support, and provide hope for individuals who suffer 

16 from primary lateral sclerosis, while funding re17 search to help find a cure for this disorder; 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 896 IH 

1 (4) supports the designation of an appropriate 

2 time to recognize ‘‘Hardy Brown Primary Lateral 

3 Sclerosis Awareness Month’’; and 

4 (5) calls upon the people of the United States 

5 to observe the month with appropriate programs and 

6 activities. 

Æ 


bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS