PRINTER'S NO. 743
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
122
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY FARNESE, DINNIMAN, BARTOLOTTA, BROWNE, MARTIN,
BAKER, SCAVELLO, KILLION, SCHWANK, FOLMER, BREWSTER,
PHILLIPS-HILL, MENSCH, HUGHES, K. WARD, HUTCHINSON, SABATINA,
BLAKE, TARTAGLIONE, J. WARD, COSTA AND AUMENT, MAY 7, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 7, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2019 as "Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is better known
as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
WHEREAS, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease
characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and
lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn of
the spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the
skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
WHEREAS, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences
difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the
patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
WHEREAS, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and are
aware of their loss of motor functions and the inevitable
outcome of continued deterioration and death; and
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WHEREAS, ALS affects military veterans at twice the rate of
the general population; and
WHEREAS, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between 40
and 70 years of age, peaking at approximately 55 years of age,
and affects both men and women without bias; and
WHEREAS, More than 5,000 new ALS patients are diagnosed
throughout the nation each year; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania there are currently more than 1,000
individuals who have been formally diagnosed with ALS; and
WHEREAS, The $750,000 in State funding appropriated by the
General Assembly for ALS support services for 2018-2019 provided
services to nearly 1,000 constituents and a substantial savings
to the State budget and taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, The ALS Association reports that on average,
patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years from
the time of diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
WHEREAS, "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month"
increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' circumstances
and acknowledges the negative impact this disease has on ALS
patients and their families and recognizes the research being
done to eradicate ALS; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
designate the month of May 2019 as "Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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