| R 171 |
| 2026 -- H 8306 Enacted 03/17/2026 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2026 TO BE "MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, DeSimone, Batista, Felix, Hull, Furtado, and Sanchez |
| Date Introduced: March 17, 2026 |
| WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central |
| nervous system, affecting approximately one million individuals in the United States. |
| Approximately 10,000 new cases of Multiple Sclerosis are diagnosed in the United States each |
| year, and the disease is more prevalent in women than men; and |
| WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis causes damage to the central nervous system when |
| overactive immune cells attack myelin, the protective covering of nerve fibers, resulting in |
| inflammation which, over time, causes lesions that harden into scar tissue, known as "sclerosis"; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by unpredictable symptoms such as |
| fatigue, numbness, weakness, cognitive impairments such as optic neuritis and mobility |
| challenges, which often lead to significant disability; and |
| WHEREAS, While there are a variety of treatments available to slow the progression of |
| Multiple Sclerosis, there are currently no treatments that can stop or reverse the damage caused |
| by the disease. Damage to the central nervous system can occur even before an individual |
| experiences symptoms, therefore the best chance to reduce long-term disability is during the early |
| phase of the disease. Early and accurate diagnosis gives individuals the best chance of living a |
| normal or near-normal life; and |
| WHEREAS, Increased awareness of Multiple Sclerosis can promote understanding, |
| support, and access to resources for those living with the disease, as well as encourage |
| advancements in research, treatment, and quality-of-life initiatives; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island has the second-highest rate of Multiple Sclerosis in the United |
| States, behind only Washington, D.C., with a rate of approximately 36 cases per 10,000 residents, |
| significantly higher than the national average; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims March of 2026 to be "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode |
| Island; 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 National Multiple Sclerosis Society. |
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| LC006078 |
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