A house RESOLUTION

 

to honor individuals and families living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to recognize caregivers and healthcare providers, to increase public awareness about the realities of this devastating disease, to demonstrate the state's commitment to supporting those impacted by the disease, and to declare May 2026 as "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month" in the State of South Carolina.

 

Whereas, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease in which the brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe; and

 

Whereas, the ALS Association works in communities across the Palmetto State to provide care services, equipment, advocacy, and research support; and

 

Whereas, thousands of new ALS cases are reported every year, and estimates show that someone is diagnosed with ALS and that someone passes away from ALS every ninety minutes; and

 

Whereas, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

 

Whereas, the exact causes of ALS are unknown and there is no known cure for ALS; and

 

Whereas, people who have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and

 

Whereas, securing access to new therapies, to durable medical equipment, and to communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS; and

 

Whereas, clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and

 

Whereas, the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally and has committed more than $154 million dollars to support more than five hundred fifty projects across the United States and in eighteen other countries; and

 

Whereas, the ALS Association is committed to making ALS livable and to curing it for everyone everywhere; and

 

Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS, to acknowledge the terrible impact this disease has on those individuals and their families, and to support research to eradicate this disease. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor individuals and families living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, recognize caregivers and healthcare providers, increase public awareness about the realities of this devastating disease, demonstrate the state's commitment to supporting those impacted by the disease, and declare May 2026 as "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month" in the State of South Carolina.

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