Senate Concurrent Resolution 590

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE FEBRUARY 3, 2010, AS "AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) AWARENESS DAY IN MISSISSIPPI" AND URGING THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH IN ORDER TO FIND A TREATMENT AND A CURE FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS.

WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or 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 lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns 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, ALS does not affect a patient's mental capacity, so that the patient remains alert and aware of his or her loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and

WHEREAS, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, research indicates that military veterans are at a 50% or greater risk of developing ALS than those who have not served in the military; and

WHEREAS, ALS has no known causes, means of prevention, or cure; and

WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Day increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' circumstances and acknowledges the terrible impact this disease has not only on the patient but on his or her family and the community and recognizes the research being done to eradicate this horrible disease:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate February 3, 2010, as "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Day in Mississippi" and urge the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide additional funding for research in order to find a treatment and eventually a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Mississippi congressional delegation, the State Board of Health and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.