PRINTER'S NO. 1116
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
159
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, GREENLEAF, DINNIMAN, TEPLITZ,
SABATINA, BAKER, FONTANA, KITCHEN, McGARRIGLE, SCAVELLO,
VULAKOVICH, SCHWANK, MENSCH, GORDNER, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY,
YUDICHAK AND COSTA, JUNE 24, 2015
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 24, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2015 as "National Spinal Cord
Injury Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Twelve thousand spine-related injuries occur in the
United States each year; and
WHEREAS, More than 300,000 Americans, including 40,000
veterans, have spine-related injuries; and
WHEREAS, Spinal cord injuries often result in paralysis of
either the lower body, paraplegia, or the upper and lower body,
quadriplegia, and 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 also increase a person's risk
for osteoporosis, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes,
therefore making physical activity especially important to the
physical and emotional well-being of persons with spinal cord
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injuries; and
WHEREAS, Every 48 minutes another person in the United States
becomes paralyzed from a spinal cord injury; and
WHEREAS, The Senate affirms the necessity of addressing
spinal cord-related injuries, including the particular
challenges of spinal cord injury care and recovery for persons
with new or existing injuries and 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
persons and acknowledge the achievements of Americans living
with spinal cord injury; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs, a leading
advocate of "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month,"
offers inpatient, outpatient, home care and respite care
services, as well as specialty health care programs for persons
living with a spinal cord injury and facilitates the progress of
related research through its network of specialized care centers
and primary care teams; and
WHEREAS, The Buoniconti Fund, in furtherance of its work
addressing spinal cord injury awareness and its national and
international objectives related to curing paralysis, is urging
all persons in our communities to support its largest campaign;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of September
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2015 as "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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