Bill Text: TX HR907 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing April 2023 as Parkinson's Awareness Month and honoring Power for Parkinson's on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-04-28 - Reported enrolled [HR907 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR907-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 907 |
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WHEREAS, Every year, approximately 90,000 Americans are | ||
diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder | ||
that causes a progressive decline in motor function and is often | ||
accompanied by other life-changing symptoms; and | ||
WHEREAS, Patients with Parkinson's disease may experience | ||
tremors, slowed movements, rigid muscles, impaired posture and | ||
balance, and difficulties with actions such as speaking and | ||
writing; these symptoms vary in their severity from person to | ||
person and become worse as the disorder progresses; in many cases, | ||
patients also suffer from depression, chronic pain, and sleep | ||
disorders, and in advanced stages, some experience dementia and | ||
psychosis; and | ||
WHEREAS, Currently, nearly one million individuals in the | ||
United States are suffering from Parkinson's disease caused by the | ||
loss of the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine; research | ||
from Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that only about 15 percent of | ||
Parkinson's disease cases derive from genetics passed down from | ||
parent to child; and | ||
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and | ||
Prevention, Parkinson's disease is the 14th leading cause of death | ||
in the United States; it also greatly impacts millions of Americans | ||
who are caregivers, family members, and friends of affected | ||
individuals, and the annual economic burden of Parkinson's disease | ||
is estimated to be as much as $52 billion in direct and indirect | ||
costs; and | ||
WHEREAS, Because there is no known cure for Parkinson's | ||
disease, medical care is currently aimed at lessening the symptoms, | ||
slowing the disease's progression, and helping patients achieve the | ||
best quality of life possible; some research has demonstrated that | ||
regular exercise can slow or even reverse the effects of the | ||
disease; and | ||
WHEREAS, Every April, Parkinson's Awareness Month serves as a | ||
means of focusing attention on the disease and promoting research | ||
into new treatments and potential cures; one organization taking | ||
part in this campaign is Power for Parkinson's, a Texas-based | ||
nonprofit that has been instrumental in raising awareness and | ||
advocating in behalf of people affected by Parkinson's disease; | ||
established in 2013, the organization offers free in-person and | ||
online fitness, dance, and singing classes for patients and their | ||
care partners, and it provides a wide range of informative | ||
resources such as support groups, workshops with experts, and | ||
social events; this year, it is hosting an event on April 15 to | ||
commemorate the 10th anniversary of its founding; and | ||
WHEREAS, As the worldwide incidence of Parkinson's disease | ||
continues to rise at alarming rates, with the disease expected to | ||
affect twice as many people by 2040, the search for a cure is | ||
becoming an increasingly urgent priority, and Power for Parkinson's | ||
is to be commended for its efforts to address this devastating | ||
condition; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize April 2023 as Parkinson's Awareness | ||
Month and honor Power for Parkinson's on the occasion of its 10th | ||
anniversary; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas House of Representatives. | ||
Howard | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 907 was adopted by the House on April | ||
28, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||