2024 -- S 3061

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LC006104

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY OF 2024, TO BE "ALS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senator Valarie J. Lawson

     Date Introduced: May 08, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known by many as Lou Gehrig's

disease, is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses

connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually

breathe; and

     WHEREAS, An estimated 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS

at any given time, with an estimated 5,000 new cases appearing each year, and annually, over

450,000 people affected worldwide; and

     WHEREAS, Approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, and every 90

minutes someone loses their battle with the disease; and

     WHEREAS, On average, patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years

from the time of diagnosis; and

     WHEREAS, ALS has no cure and can strike anyone regardless of race, sex, age, or

ethnicity; and

     WHEREAS, Securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and

communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS; and

     WHEREAS, Clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing

quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and

     WHEREAS, Persons who have served in the military are approximately twice as likely to

develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and

     WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-

connected disease; and

     WHEREAS, The ALS Association, as the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research

globally, has committed over $154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United

States and 18 other countries. The Association's commitment to accelerating the pace of

discovery remains unwavering, fueled by the hope that one day, ALS will be a livable disease for

everyone, everywhere, until a cure can be found; and

     WHEREAS, The purpose of ALS Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about

ALS, show support for those affected by this relentless disease, and give recognition to those

working to find a cure; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May of

2024, to be "ALS Awareness Month." We furthermore urge all the citizens of the State to educate

themselves on ALS and to help combat this disease by all means possible; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Chapter of the ALS

Foundation.

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