HR 9091

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple
3	Sclerosis Awareness Week.
4
5	WHEREAS, multiple sclerosis can impact people of all ages,
6	races, and ethnicities, and
7	WHEREAS, more than 400,000 Americans live with multiple
8	sclerosis, and
9	WHEREAS, approximately 2,500,000 people worldwide have been
10	diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and
11	WHEREAS, every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with
12	multiple sclerosis, and
13	WHEREAS, it is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000
14	children and adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis, and
15	WHEREAS, the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still
16	unknown, and
17	WHEREAS, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are
18	unpredictable and vary from person to person, and
19	WHEREAS, there is no single diagnostic laboratory test
20	available for multiple sclerosis, and
21	WHEREAS, multiple sclerosis is not contagious or directly
22	inherited, but studies show there are genetic factors that
23	indicate certain individuals are susceptible to the disease, and
24	WHEREAS, multiple sclerosis symptoms occur when an immune
25	system attack affects the myelin in nerve fibers of the central
26	nervous system, damaging or destroying the myelin and replacing
27	it with scar tissue, thereby interfering with or preventing the
28	transmission of nerve signals, and
29	WHEREAS, in rare cases multiple sclerosis is so progressive
30	it is fatal, and
31	WHEREAS, there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, and
32	WHEREAS, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other
33	organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of
34	life for all those affected by multiple sclerosis recognize and
35	celebrate Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week during one week in
36	March every calendar year, and
37	WHEREAS, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a
38	collective of passionate individuals who want to do something
39	now about multiple sclerosis, and
40	WHEREAS, this year National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness
41	Week is recognized during the week of March 8-14, 2010, NOW,
42	THEREFORE,
43
44	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
45	Florida:
46
47	That the House of Representatives of the State of Florida:
48	(1)  Supports the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis
49	Awareness Week.
50	(2)  Encourages media organizations to participate in
51	Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and help educate the public
52	about multiple sclerosis.
53	(3)  Commends the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis
54	Awareness Week.
55	(4)  Commends the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's
56	commitment to combating multiple sclerosis by promoting
57	awareness about its causes and risks and by promoting new
58	education programs, supporting research, and expanding access to
59	medical treatment.
60	(5)  Recognizes all people in Florida living with multiple
61	sclerosis, expresses gratitude to their family members and
62	friends who are a source of love and encouragement to them, and
63	salutes the health care professionals and medical researchers
64	who provide assistance to those so afflicted and continue to
65	work to find cures and improve treatments.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.