Title: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Commemorates the 40th anniversary of the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter. (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes muscle weakness and leads to death.)

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 485 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 485

   Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the ALS Association Greater 
                         Philadelphia Chapter.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2017

    Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Brady of 
Pennsylvania, and Mr. Evans) submitted the following resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the ALS Association Greater 
                         Philadelphia Chapter.

Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative 
        disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord;
Whereas motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the 
        spinal cord to muscles throughout the body;
Whereas the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually 
        leads to their death;
Whereas when the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and 
        control muscle movement is lost;
Whereas people with ALS live, on average, just two to five years after 
        diagnosis;
Whereas established in 1985, the ALS Association is the only national nonprofit 
        organization fighting Lou Gehrig's disease on every front;
Whereas by leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people 
        with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating 
        multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and 
        fostering government partnerships, the ALS Association builds hope and 
        enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments 
        and a cure;
Whereas, as the preeminent ALS organization, the ALS Association leads the way 
        in research, care services, public education, and public policy, giving 
        help and hope to those facing the disease;
Whereas the ALS Association's nationwide network of chapters provides 
        comprehensive patient services and support to the ALS community;
Whereas the mission of the ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and 
        cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also 
        empowering people with Lou Gehrig's disease and their families to live 
        fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support;
Whereas the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``the Chapter''), founded in August 1977, covers eastern 
        Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, and all of Delaware, 
        supporting approximately 1,000 people with ALS at any given time;
Whereas the Chapter was first led and founded by Felice Weiner of Lower Merion, 
        who started the organization because her mother had ALS, and then, in 
        2016, she herself passed away from ALS as well;
Whereas Ellyn Phillips joined the Chapter in 1981 after her husband Alan was 
        diagnosed with ALS and later became, and remains, President of the 
        Chapter;
Whereas the Philadelphia Phillies took on ALS in 1984 and have since raised over 
        $17.7 million to ``Strike Out ALS'', including $656,000 at the 2017 
        Phillies Phestival;
Whereas the Chapter provides a long list of services for ALS families, including 
        multidisciplinary clinics at Jefferson University, the Penn State Milton 
        S. Hershey Medical Center, the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Geisinger 
        Bloomsburg and Wyoming Valley, Meridian Health, and the VA Medical 
        Center in Philadelphia; and
Whereas other services of the Chapter include in-home care, an equipment loan 
        closet, education programs, assistive technology and speech devices, 
        nurses and social workers, support groups, and the Mike Kilpatric Van 
        Transportation Program: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commemorates the 40th 
anniversary of the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
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