Title: A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to ending multiple sclerosis by promoting awareness about individuals affected by multiple sclerosis and supporting research and education programs.
Recognizes people living with multiple sclerosis and salutes the health care professionals and medical researchers who assist those so affected and continue to work to find ways to stop the disease, restore what has been lost, and end multiple sclerosis forever.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 439 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 439

 Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 19, 2018

  Mr. Casey (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
 Brown, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. 
 Moran) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Whereas multiple sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as ``MS'') can impact 
        individuals of all ages, races, and ethnicities, but MS is at least 2 to 
        3 times more common in women than in men;
Whereas there are approximately 2,300,000 individuals worldwide who have been 
        diagnosed with MS;
Whereas MS is typically diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, 
        but it is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 children and 
        adolescents are living with MS in the United States;
Whereas MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous 
        system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and 
        between the brain and the body;
Whereas symptoms of MS range from numbness and tingling to vision problems and 
        paralysis, and the progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in 
        any 1 person cannot yet be predicted;
Whereas, while there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited, studies show 
        that there are genetic and environmental factors that give certain 
        individuals a higher risk of developing MS;
Whereas the exact cause of MS is unknown, and there is no cure for MS;
Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, a national network of independent MS 
        organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life of 
        individuals affected by MS, recognizes and supports Multiple Sclerosis 
        Awareness Week;
Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is to increase 
        opportunities for cooperation and to provide greater opportunity to 
        leverage the effective use of resources for the benefit of the MS 
        community;
Whereas the United States plays a critical role in coordinating MS research 
        globally and amplifies the impact of research in the United States 
        through which results are delivered to MS patients;
Whereas, in 2012, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was a founding member 
        of the International Progressive MS Alliance, which coordinates research 
        to accelerate the development of treatments for progressive MS by 
        removing international scientific and technological barriers and, as of 
        2018, includes 17 MS organizations from 17 countries, 9 foundation and 
        trust members, and 7 pharmaceutical partners;
Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition recognizes and supports Multiple 
        Sclerosis Awareness Week during March each year;
Whereas the goals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week are--

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

    (2) to encourage everyone to do something to demonstrate a commitment 
to moving toward a world free of MS; and

    (3) to acknowledge those who have dedicated time and talent to help 
promote MS research and programs; and

Whereas, in 2018, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is recognized during the 
        week of March 11 through March 17: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 
        Awareness Week;
            (2) encourages States, localities, and the territories and 
        possessions of the United States to support the goals and 
        ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week by issuing 
        proclamations designating Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
            (3) encourages media organizations--
                    (A) to participate in Multiple Sclerosis Awareness 
                Week; and
                    (B) to help provide education to the public about 
                multiple sclerosis;
            (4) commends the efforts of States, localities, and the 
        territories and possessions of the United States to support the 
        goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
            (5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the United 
        States to ending multiple sclerosis by--
                    (A) promoting awareness about individuals that are 
                affected by multiple sclerosis; and
                    (B) supporting multiple sclerosis research and 
                education programs;
            (6) recognizes all individuals in the United States living 
        with multiple sclerosis;
            (7) expresses gratitude to the family members and friends 
        of individuals living with multiple sclerosis, who are a source 
        of love and encouragement for those individuals; and
            (8) salutes the health care professionals and medical 
        researchers who--
                    (A) provide assistance to individuals affected by 
                multiple sclerosis; and
                    (B) continue to work to find ways--
                            (i) to stop multiple sclerosis;
                            (ii) to restore what has been lost due to 
                        multiple sclerosis; and
                            (iii) to end multiple sclerosis forever.
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