Title: A resolution designating May 2020 as "ALS Awareness Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates May 2020 as ALS Awareness Month and commends efforts to improve the quality and length of life for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 588 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 588

            Designating May 2020 as ``ALS Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 19, 2020

Mr. Braun (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Bennet, Ms. McSally, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Jones, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
  Peters, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Hyde-
  Smith, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Scott of South 
Carolina, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Harris, Mr. Lankford, 
 Mr. Markey, Ms. Cantwell, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
            Designating May 2020 as ``ALS Awareness Month''.

Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as ``ALS'') 
        is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in 
        the brain and the spinal cord;
Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is between 2 and 5 years 
        after the date on which the individual receives an ALS diagnosis;
Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, gender, or 
        socioeconomic boundaries;
Whereas the 2 different types of ALS are sporadic ALS and familial ALS;
Whereas sporadic ALS--

    (1) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the United 
States;

    (2) accounts for between 90 and 95 percent of all cases of ALS in the 
United States; and

    (3) may affect any individual in any location;

Whereas familial ALS (commonly known as ``FALS'')--

    (1) is inherited; and

    (2) accounts for between 5 and 10 percent of all cases of ALS in the 
United States;

Whereas there is a 50 percent chance that each offspring of an individual with 
        familial ALS will inherit the gene mutation for familial ALS and develop 
        the disease;
Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which an individual first 
        experiences symptoms of ALS and the date on which the individual is 
        diagnosed with ALS is about 1 year;
Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness, and the 
        progression of ALS results in the further weakening, wasting, and 
        paralysis of--

    (1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and

    (2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as speech, 
swallowing, and breathing;

Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age but predominantly strikes adults;
Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of individuals in the United 
        States have ALS at any given time;
Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United States, slightly more 
        than 5,600 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each 
        year, and 15 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS 
        each day;
Whereas, between 2015 and 2040, the number of ALS cases around the world is 
        expected to increase nearly 70 percent;
Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of respiratory failure;
Whereas military veterans are approximately twice as likely to be diagnosed with 
        ALS than the general public in the United States;
Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, there is no cure for 
        ALS;
Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of individuals living with ALS 
        provide support to those individuals with love, day-to-day care, and 
        more; and
Whereas an individual with ALS, and the caregivers of such an individual, can be 
        required to bear significant costs for medical care, equipment, and home 
        health care services for the individual as the disease progresses: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates May 2020 as ``ALS Awareness Month'';
            (2) affirms the dedication of the Senate to working toward 
        securing cures and better treatments for amyotrophic lateral 
        sclerosis (referred to in this resolution as ``ALS'') as soon 
        as possible;
            (3) recognizes the challenges that individuals with 
        medically determined ALS face on a daily basis; and
            (4) commends the dedication of the family members, friends, 
        organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers across 
        the United States that are working to improve the quality and 
        length of life of ALS patients.
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