PRINTER'S NO. 2364
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
469
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY CHARLTON, CAUSER, BERNSTINE, DRISCOLL,
CALTAGIRONE, D. MILLER, HAHN, CUTLER, TOEPEL, NEILSON,
LONGIETTI, CORBIN, WARD, ZIMMERMAN, BIZZARRO, RYAN, BOBACK,
SCHLOSSBERG, BAKER, KINSEY, MILLARD, DUSH, SONNEY, V. BROWN,
MEHAFFIE, O'NEILL, D. COSTA, WATSON, HILL-EVANS, PHILLIPS-
HILL, GROVE, HEFFLEY, DiGIROLAMO, A. HARRIS, MARSICO, ROZZI
AND SCHWEYER, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2017 as "National Spinal Cord
Injury Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The central nervous system is made up of two parts,
the brain and the spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, The spinal cord is considered the information
superhighway of the body because it contains bundles of neurons
that carry signals to and from the brain, controlling many
bodily functions; and
WHEREAS, After a spinal cord injury occurs, damaged neurons
can no longer emit signals to or from the brain, and the injured
individual suffers permanent sensory loss and loss of muscle
control; and
WHEREAS, Twelve thousand spine-related injuries occur in the
United States each year; and
WHEREAS, More than 300,000 Americans, including 40,000
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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 an individual's
risk for osteoporosis, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes,
therefore making physical activity especially important to the
physical and 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 House of Representatives affirms the necessity
of addressing spinal cord-related injuries, including the
particular challenges of spinal cord injury care and recovery
for individuals with new or existing injuries and their loved
ones and caregivers; and
WHEREAS, The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center's
2016 data sheet shows that the four leading causes of spinal
cord injury for both men and women were auto accidents, falls,
acts of violence and sports-related activities; and
WHEREAS, The same report shows that the average annual cost
of care for individuals who had a spinal cord injury ranged from
approximately $350,000 to $1.06 million the first year after
injury, with an estimated lifetime cost of between approximately
$1.1 million and $4.7 million, depending on the severity of
injury and the age of the individual at the time of injury; and
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives 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 injury; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs, a leading
advocate of "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month,"
offers inpatient, outpatient, home care services 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; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of September 2017 as "National Spinal Cord Injury
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
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