PRINTER'S NO. 1584
No. 267 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY MANN, FICHTER, DeWEESE, GEIST, CREIGHTON, LEDERER,
FORCIER, THOMAS, DONATUCCI, RUBLEY, GRUCELA, GEORGE, NAILOR,
GINGRICH, BISHOP, BELARDI, ROHRER, WATSON, PISTELLA, DERMODY,
HASAY, SANTONI, PAYNE, STERN, GERGELY, BAKER, WOJNAROSKI,
D. EVANS, BARRAR, McGILL, HARHART, BENNINGHOFF, WALKO,
McILHATTAN, ADOLPH, FABRIZIO, LEACH, HUTCHINSON, DeLUCA,
TRAVAGLIO, SCAVELLO, ALLEN, ROSS, REICHLEY, GILLESPIE, COY,
BEBKO-JONES, CAWLEY, HARRIS, TRUE, HERMAN, TANGRETTI, BUNT,
MARKOSEK, BELFANTI, CAPPELLI, KELLER, SOLOBAY, FAIRCHILD,
READSHAW, SAYLOR, MUNDY, MARSICO, LEWIS, FRANKEL, WASHINGTON,
J. EVANS, HERSHEY, SHANER, JOSEPHS, McNAUGHTON, KENNEY,
BALDWIN, B. SMITH, WILT, CURRY, GORDNER, LaGROTTA, TIGUE,
CAUSER, HESS, CLYMER, ROBERTS, YOUNGBLOOD, R. STEVENSON,
FEESE, HENNESSEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, O'BRIEN, PICKETT, HARHAI,
HICKERNELL, JAMES, SAINATO, WANSACZ, LAUGHLIN, FREEMAN,
MANDERINO, COSTA AND GOODMAN, MAY 5, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 5, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2003 as "Arthritis Awareness Month"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases
4 that cause pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and
5 connective tissue throughout the body, the most prevalent forms
6 of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid
7 arthritis; and
8 WHEREAS, Nearly 70 million Americans, representing one in
9 three adults, have arthritis and nearly two-thirds of those
10 people are women; and
1 WHEREAS, Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health
2 problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in
3 the United States; and
4 WHEREAS, Arthritis costs the United States economy $124.5
5 billion per year in medical care and lost wages; and
6 WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known
7 for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that
8 can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early
11 diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each
12 individual; and
13 WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of
14 medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint
15 protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May
17 2003 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge
18 residents of this Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of
19 this disease and to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its
20 impact on their lives.
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