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SRES 581 ATS

Designating June 6, 2008, as `National Huntington's Disease Awareness Day'.

June 3, 2008

Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. DODD) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

Designating June 6, 2008, 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

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates June 6, 2008, as `National Huntington's Disease Awareness Day';

(2) recognizes that all people of the United States should become more informed and aware of Huntington's Disease; and

(3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Huntington's Disease Society of America.