Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Bushweller & Rep. Spiegelman

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65

RECOGNIZING THE CHAMPIONS OF THE AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ("ALS") CAUSE AND ESTABLISHING MAY 2018 AS "ALS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; and

WHEREAS, motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord, and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body; and

WHEREAS, the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS takes away a person’s ability to walk, speak, move, breathe, and eventually leads to their death; and

WHEREAS, when the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost; and

WHEREAS, there is no cure for ALS and there are only 2 drugs available to treat the disease; and

WHEREAS, people with ALS live, on average, just 2 to 5 years after diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, military veterans are twice as likely as the general population to be diagnosed with ALS, making it a service-connected disease; and

WHEREAS, approximately 100 people are living with ALS at any given time in the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the leading ALS organization, the ALS Association, supports many ALS patients and their families throughout the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the ALS Association leads the way in research, care services, public education, and public policy, giving help and hope to those facing the disease; and

WHEREAS, the ALS Association’s nationwide network of chapters provides comprehensive patient services and support to the ALS community; and

WHEREAS, several Delawareans have made notable strides to address ALS and raise awareness about the disease; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Wollter, along with her daughter Mary Lou and other friends in the area, started the Rehoboth Beach Walk to Defeat ALS 10 years ago; and

WHEREAS, Delaware resident Dr. Scott Mackler, who lived with ALS from 1999 until 2013, pioneered assistive technology and brain computer interface.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the General Assembly recognizes the champions of the ALS cause and establishes May 2018 as ALS Awareness Month in the State of Delaware.