PRINTER'S NO. 1945
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
347
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, KEARNEY, BROWNE, HUGHES, MUTH,
FONTANA, CAPPELLETTI, MARTIN, BARTOLOTTA, KANE, HUTCHINSON,
DILLON, HAYWOOD, SCAVELLO, COMITTA, STEFANO, STREET, COSTA,
MASTRIANO AND BREWSTER, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2022 as "National Spinal Cord
Injury Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Approximately 17,000 spinal cord injuries occur in
the United States each year; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 294,000 Americans, including 40,000
veterans, have spinal cord injuries; and
WHEREAS, Spinal cord injuries often result in paralysis of
either the lower body, paraplegia, or the upper and lower body,
quadriplegia; and
WHEREAS, Spinal cord injuries often can cause respiratory
illness, sleep apnea, a form of high blood pressure known as
autonomic dysreflexia, inability to regulate body temperature,
chronic pain and impaired use of bladder, bowel and reproductive
organs; and
WHEREAS, Spinal cord injury may increase an individual's risk
for osteoporosis, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, making
physical activity especially important to the physical and
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emotional well-being of individuals with spinal cord injuries;
and
WHEREAS, Every 48 minutes another individual in the United
States becomes paralyzed from a spinal cord injury; and
WHEREAS, The Senate affirms the necessity of addressing
spinal cord injuries and the particular challenges of spinal
cord injury care and recovery for individuals with new or
existing injuries and for their loved ones and caregivers; and
WHEREAS, The Senate further notes the significance of
ensuring access to related resources and benefits, advancing
medical research and disseminating public education and
outreach; and
WHEREAS, "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month" offers
an opportunity for individuals to learn about spinal cord
injuries, recognize the daily challenges encountered by injured
individuals and acknowledge the achievements of Americans living
with spinal cord injuries; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), a leading advocate for "National Spinal Cord Injury
Awareness Month," offers inpatient, outpatient, home care and
respite care services as well as specialty health care programs
for individuals living with a spinal cord injury; and
WHEREAS, The VA facilitates the progress of related research
through its network of specialized care centers and primary care
teams; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of September
2022 as "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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