House Passes Lee Resolution Supporting the Goals and Ideals of MS Awareness Week
For Immediate Release
March 5, 2009
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661
Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representative unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee supporting the Goals and Ideals of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Week. MS Awareness Week is recognized this week from March 2nd though March 8th. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. It’s thought to be an auto-immune disorder where the immune system incorrectly attacks healthy nerve fibers of the central nervous system, interfering with the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body. She released this statement:
“I am pleased have introduced this resolution supporting the goals and ideals of MS Awareness Week to bring light to a disease that my family and hundreds of thousands of families around the nation have faced. My wonderful sister Mildred taught me what it’s like to live with multiple sclerosis.
“This resolution is for Mildred and all those who are living and suffering with multiple sclerosis, and all the friends, family, and loved ones who care for them and take care of them when they are in need.
“There are over 400,000 people throughout the United States suffering from multiple sclerosis, and worldwide over 2.5 million cases have been diagnosed. But the real numbers of people living with MS are almost certainly higher.
“This resolution will support the work of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition in raising awareness about MS by urging, states, localities, and the media to participate in MS Awareness week, and by encouraging people to educate themselves about the disease.
“But it is not enough for us to advocate for increased awareness. As Members of Congress we have the ability and the responsibility to ensure that additional research funding is put toward diseases like multiple sclerosis.
“I’m pleased that the FY09 Defense Appropriations bill included $5 million to fund research into multiple sclerosis among our veterans. However, we need to invest more funding into finding the causes of MS, so that we can prevent it, while working to improve existing therapies for those who are suffering from the disease, and I hope one day, to eventually cure it.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this resolution and encourage everyone to learn more about how they can help raise awareness about this disease.”
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