THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MILNE, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DEASY, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, GROVE, HARHART, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCHMOTZER, SONNEY, STERN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 11, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 11, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of August 2012 as "Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a severe

neurological disorder characterized by muscle atrophy and

weakness that generally manifests itself early in life and is

the leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers; and

WHEREAS, SMA is an autosomal recessive genetic disease,

meaning that a person must have two copies of a defective gene

to have the disease; and

WHEREAS, SMA carriers do not exhibit SMA symptoms, but do

carry a defective copy of the defective gene; and

WHEREAS, If both parents are carriers of the SMA gene, then

each of their children has a one in four chance of having the

disease; and

WHEREAS, There are many types of SMA, and some types of SMA

are fatal; and

WHEREAS, Life expectancy varies for the various types of SMA;

and

WHEREAS, While there is no cure for SMA, medicines and

physical therapy help treat symptoms; and

WHEREAS, Approximately six million Americans, or one in 50

people, are carriers of the SMA gene; and

WHEREAS, SMA has generally been believed to affect as many as

10,000 to 25,000 children and adults in the United States; and

WHEREAS, SMA is one of the most common rare diseases, with an

incidence comparable to cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular

dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); and

WHEREAS, Intellectual activity is unaffected by SMA, and it

is often observed that patients with SMA are unusually bright

and sociable; and

WHEREAS, SMA crosses all racial, ethnic and gender boundaries

and, although it is primarily diagnosed in children, it can

affect people at any age; and

WHEREAS, The goal of SMA advocacy organizations is to raise

awareness of SMA and the need for funding research, education,

advocacy and patient services for those who suffer from SMA;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of August 2012 as "Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness

Month" in Pennsylvania to increase awareness of SMA and the need

for research, education and services for individuals diagnosed

with SMA.