THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HESS, BAKER, BOYD, BRADFORD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DALEY, DAY, DEASY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KAVULICH, M.K. KELLER, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MASSER, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MUSTIO, MYERS, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PETRI, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAVENSTAHL, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND WHITE, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 23, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of finding the cause and cure for

multiple sclerosis; expressing appreciation to the

Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis

Society for their work; and recognizing the week of March 14

through 20, 2011, as "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease of the

central nervous system, affecting an estimated 400,000

Americans, and nearly 200 new cases of multiple sclerosis are

being diagnosed each week nationwide; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple

Sclerosis Society (NMSS) report that in this Commonwealth more

than 19,000 people are affected by this devastating disease, the

fifth highest incident rate in the country; and

WHEREAS, Multiple sclerosis generally strikes young adults 20

through 50 years of age, attacking them in the prime of their

lives, and some of these young adults diagnosed with multiple

sclerosis experience tremendous suffering and pain, leading to

total paralysis in some cases, and the cause and cure for this

debilitating disease remain unknown; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple

Sclerosis Society have been committed throughout the years to

heightening public knowledge and insight about this devastating

and crippling disease, and the chapters are currently planning

several major Statewide fundraisers and educational programs and

are providing direct services in order to raise awareness about

the effects of multiple sclerosis; and

WHEREAS, Finding the cause and developing a method of

prevention for multiple sclerosis is an important task that all

Pennsylvanians should support; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

importance of finding the cause and cure for multiple sclerosis,

a terribly perplexing and painful disease which affects hundreds

of thousands of Americans, including many Pennsylvanians; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its

appreciation and admiration for the major work that the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society has done over the years to heighten

the public's knowledge and insight about this debilitating

disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

week of March 14 through 20, 2011, as "Multiple Sclerosis

Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania and encourage the citizens of

this great State to join in the fight to end this devastating

disease.