HJ0058

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is better 
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known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
 
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    WHEREAS, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease 
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characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the lower motor 
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neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns of the spinal 
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cord; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the 
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skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
 
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    WHEREAS, As ALS progresses the patient experiences 
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difficulty in swallowing, talking, and breathing; and
 
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    WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the 
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patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
 
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    WHEREAS, ALS does not affect a patient's mental capacity, 
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so that the patient remains alert and aware of his or her loss 
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of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued 
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deterioration and death; and
 
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    WHEREAS, On average, patients diagnosed with ALS only 
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survive two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, research indicates that military veterans are at a 
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50% or greater risk of developing ALS than those who have not 
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served in the military; and
 
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    WHEREAS, ALS has no known cause, means of prevention, or 
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cure; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month 
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increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' 
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circumstances and acknowledges the terrible impact this 
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disease has not only on the patient but on his or her family 
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and the community and recognizes the research being done to 
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eradicate this horrible disease;

 therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we proclaim the month of May 
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2007 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in the 
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State of Illinois; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we memorialize the President and Congress of 
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the United States to enact legislation to provide additional 
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funding for research in order to find a treatment and 
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eventually a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and be it 
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further

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the President of the United States and each member 
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of the Illinois congressional delegation.