III
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 234
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 13, 2007
Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating June 15, 2007, as “National Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day”.
Whereas Huntington’s Disease is a progressive degenerative neurological disease that causes total physical and mental deterioration over a 12 to 15 year period;
Whereas each child of a parent with Huntington's Disease has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the Huntington’s Disease gene;
Whereas Huntington’s Disease typically begins in mid-life, between the ages of 30 and 45, though onset may occur as early as the age of 2;
Whereas children who develop the juvenile form of the disease rarely live to adulthood;
Whereas the average lifespan after onset of Huntington’s Disease is 10 to 20 years, and the younger the age of onset, the more rapid the progression of the disease;
Whereas Huntington’s Disease affects 30,000 patients and
200,000 genetically at risk
individuals in the United
States;
Whereas since the discovery of the gene that causes Huntington’s Disease in 1993, the pace of Huntington's Disease research has accelerated;
Whereas, although no effective treatment or cure currently exists, scientists and researchers are hopeful that breakthroughs will be forthcoming;
Whereas researchers across the Nation are conducting important research projects involving Huntington’s Disease; and
Whereas the Senate is an institution that can raise awareness in the general public and the medical community of Huntington’s Disease: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates June
15, 2007, as National Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day
;
recognizes that all people of the United States should become more informed and aware of Huntington’s Disease; and
respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.