III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 156 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to childhood stroke and 

recognizing May 2015 as ‘‘National Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 30, 2015 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Ms. AYOTTE, and Mr. MURPHY) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to childhood 

stroke and recognizing May 2015 as ‘‘National Pediatric 

Stroke Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas a stroke, also known as cerebrovascular disease, is 

an acute neurologic injury that occurs when the blood 

supply to a part of the brain is interrupted by a clot in 

the artery or a burst of the artery; 

Whereas a stroke is a medical emergency that can cause permanent neurologic damage or even death if not promptly 

diagnosed and treated; 

Whereas a stroke occurs in approximately 1 out of every 

3,500 live births, and 4.6 out of 100,000 children ages 

19 and under experience a stroke each year; 

Whereas a stroke can occur before birth; 


ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 156 IS 

Whereas stroke is among the top 12 causes of death for children between the ages of 1 and 14 in the United States; 

Whereas 20 to 40 percent of children who have suffered a 

stroke die as a result; 

Whereas a stroke recurs within 5 years in 10 percent of children who have had an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke; 

Whereas the death rate for children who experience a stroke 

before the age of 1 is the highest out of all child age 

groups; 

Whereas there are no approved therapies for the treatment 

of acute stroke in infants and children; 

Whereas approximately 60 percent of infants and children 

who have a pediatric stroke will have serious, permanent 

neurological disabilities, including paralysis, seizures, 

speech and vision problems, and attention, learning, and 

behavioral difficulties; 

Whereas such disabilities may require ongoing physical therapy and surgeries; 

Whereas the permanent health concerns of and treatments 

for strokes that occur during childhood and young adulthood have considerable impacts on children, families, and 

society; 

Whereas more information is necessary regarding the cause, 

treatment, and prevention of pediatric strokes; 

Whereas medical research is the only means by which the 

people of the United States can identify and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies for pediatric 

strokes; and 

Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric strokes 

greatly improves the chances that an affected child will 


ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 156 IS 

recover and not experience a recurrence of a stroke: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes May 2015 as ‘‘National Pediatric 

3 Stroke Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) urges the people of the United States to 

5 support the efforts, programs, services, and organi6 zations that enhance public awareness of pediatric 

7 stroke; 

8 (3) supports the work of the National Institutes 

9 of Health in pursuit of medical progress on pediatric 

10 stroke; and 

11 (4) urges continued coordination and coopera12 tion between the Federal Government, State and 

13 local governments, researchers, families, and the 

14 public to improve treatments and prognoses for chil15 dren who suffer from strokes. 

Æ 


ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS