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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 52
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS. Recognizes May 2014 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Awareness Month and memorializes Congress to enact legislation to provide addition
funding for research in order to find a treatment and cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To recognize May 2014 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month and to2
memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide3
additional funding for research in order to find a treatment and cure for amyotrophic4
lateral sclerosis.5
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is more commonly known as Lou6
Gehrig's disease; and7
WHEREAS, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration8
of cell bodies of the lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns of the9
spinal cord; and10
WHEREAS, the initial symptom of ALS is usually weakness of the skeletal muscles,11
especially those of the extremities; and12
WHEREAS, as ALS progresses, the patient typically experiences difficulty in13
swallowing, talking, and breathing; and14
WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the patient becomes a15
functional quadriplegic; and16
WHEREAS, ALS does not affect mental capacity of the patient, such that the patient17
remains alert and aware of surroundings and aware of the loss of motor functions and the18 SCR NO. 52
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inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and1
WHEREAS, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years2
from the time of diagnosis; and3
WHEREAS, despite the catastrophic consequences of a diagnosis of ALS, the disease4
currently has no known cause, means of protection, or cure; and5
WHEREAS, research indicates that military veterans are at a sixty percent greater6
risk of developing ALS than those who have not served in the military; and7
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has promulgated8
regulations to establish a presumption of service connection for ALS thereby presuming that9
the development of ALS was incurred or aggravated by a veteran's service in the military;10
and11
WHEREAS, a national ALS registry, administered by the Centers for Disease12
Control and Prevention, is currently identifying cases of ALS in the United States and may13
become the largest ALS research project ever undertaken; and14
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month increases the15
awareness of the circumstances of living with ALS and acknowledges the terrible impact this16
disease has not only on the patient, but also on the family and community of anyone17
receiving such a diagnosis; and18
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month also increases19
awareness of research being done to eradicate this dire disease.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby21
recognize May 2014 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide additional24
funding for research in order to find a treatment and cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the26
secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of27
Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States28
Congress.29 SCR NO. 52
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Cortez SCR No. 52
Recognizes May 2014 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month and
memorializes Congress to enact legislation to provide additional funding for research in
order to find a treatment and cure for ALS.