A resolution designating March 25, 2009, as "National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day".

Mr. President, I have sought recognition today to submit a resolution to designate March 25, 2009, as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.

Cerebral palsy is a group of chronic, neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination necessary to maintain balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during or shortly after birth; or during infancy. The top two risk factors for the disorders are premature births and multiple births, and despite the introductions of modern prenatal testing, improved obstetric care, and newborn intensive care technologies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, estimates that every year 10,000 babies born in the United States will develop cerebral palsy. These disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves but, instead, damage to motor areas in the brain.

Cerebral palsy currently affects children at a rate of 1 in 278 and an estimated 800,000 Americans. The majority of children who have cerebral palsy are born with it, rather than developing the disorder over time; however, it may not be detected for months or years. Over 75 percent of individuals with cerebral palsy also have one or more additional developmental disability including epilepsy, intellectual disability, autism and visual impairments or blindness. The disorders are not progressive and are noncommunicable.

Currently, there is no cure for cerebral palsy. There are treatments, however, which can serve to alleviate some of the symptoms. Treatments now include physical and occupational therapy; speech therapy; drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.

It is essential that more research be conducted on ways in which to prevent and treat cerebral palsy. As chairman and ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I led the effort to successfully double funding for the National Institutes of Health, NIH. Funding for the NIH has increased from $11.3 billion in fiscal year 1995 to $30 billion in fiscal year 2009. In addition, I cosponsored an amendment to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide an additional $10 billion to the NIH. In 2008, the NIH provided $28 million for cerebral palsy research, which is a $16.5 million increase over 2000, when the NIH provided $11.5 million. The Department of Health and Human Services' ``Healthy People 2010'' report identified cerebral palsy as one of the important public health conditions to be monitored, and the CDC regularly conducts studies on the prevalence of cerebral palsy across the nation. This report will help the CDC to provide a more comprehensive picture of cerebral palsy and advance efforts to provide better services for these children.

Raising awareness of cerebral palsy is integral in the fight against this debilitating condition. I encourage my colleagues to work with Senator Casey and me to designate March 25, 2009, as ``National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 83, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.