A joint resolution to provide for the designation of May 1983, as "National Arthritis Month".
PL 98-18 (S.J.Res.32), enacted 04/05/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-18—APR. 5, 1983 
97 STAT. 61 
Public Law 98-18 
98th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To provide for the designation of May 1983 as "National Arthritis Month". 
Apr. 5, 1983 _ 
[S.J. Res. 82] 
Whereas arthritis is one of our Nation's leading health problems, 
striking £is many as thirty-five million Americans; 
Whereas arthritis is America's number one crippling disease, dis-
abling over seven million persons including infants, children, and 
working-age adults as well as the elderly; 
Whereas the incidence of arthritis is increasing by one million new 
victims each year; 
Whereas there are more than one hundred distinct disease entities 
classified as rheumatic, each with a distinct pathogenesis, S3anp-
toms, and course of treatment; 
Whereas the economic cost of arthritis is a major burden on the 
Nation, now estimated to be as much as $25,000,000,000 each year; 
Whereas it is estimated that, by the year 2000, arthritis will cost the 
Nation as much as $96,800,000,000 in health care expenditures; 
Whereas research on rheumatic diseases is critically underfunded 
and, as a result, scientists are unable to investigate adequately the 
myriad causes of and potential cures for, such diseases; 
Whereas greater interagency cooperation at all levels of government 
can greatly improve treatment and services for persons with 
arthritis; 
Whereas scientific understanding of the causes of several forms of 
arthritis has increased dramatically over the past decade, not-
withstanding limited research funding; 
Whereeis State vocational rehabilitation, aging, and other agencies 
are not sufficiently staffed or trained to aid and inform persons 
with arthritis; 
Whereas employers need to be made aware of the opportunities for 
retaining employees with arthritis through programs of medical 
assistance and rehabilitation; 
Whereas the many research, education, information, and patient 
services of the Arthritis Foundation are not sufficiently well 
known to the American public; 
Whereas the people of the United States, and educational, philan-
thropic, scientific, medical and health professionals, businesses, 
governments, and other organizations should be encouraged to 
provide the necessary attention and resources to combat arthritis 
in its many forms, and to discover causes and cures, prevent 
disease and disability, and improve treatment; and 
Whereas a healthy nation is a strong nation, and the attention of all 
Americans should be directed to the need to reduce the ravsiging 
impact of this chronic disabling disease upon our society: Now, 
therefore, be it 
97 STAT. 62 
PUBLIC LAW 98-18—APR. 5, 1983 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
National 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the President shall 
Arthritis Month, issue a proclamation designating May 1983 as "National Arthritis 
Month", and calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
such month with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 
Approved April 5, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 32: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Mar. 18, considered and passed Senate. 
Mar. 24, considered and passed House.