2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25101376D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 466

Offered January 13, 2025

Prefiled January 12, 2025

Designating May, in 2025 and in each succeeding year, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Virginia.

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Patrons—McClure, Maldonado, Clark, Cole, Convirs-Fowler, Cousins, Feggans, Green, Henson, Herring, Hope, Jones, Keys-Gamarra, Krizek, LeVere Bolling, Martinez, McQuinn, Mundon King, Rasoul, Seibold, Shin and Ware; Senators: Favola and Ebbin

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Referred to Committee on Rules

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

WHEREAS, thousands of new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are reported every year, and estimates show that every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from ALS; 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, durable medical equipment, and 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 to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries; and

WHEREAS, the ALS Association is committed to accelerating the pace of discovery, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone, everywhere, until a cure can be found; and

WHEREAS, 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge, an activity that has helped raise public awareness of ALS on social media and galvanized support that has led to significant investments in ALS research; and

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

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate May, in 2025 and in each succeeding year, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the ALS Association so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this month on the General Assembly's website.