Bill Text: MI HR0118 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to declare August 2011 as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2011-08-24 - Adopted [HR0118 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HR0118-Enrolled.html
Reps. Nesbitt, Darany, Denby, Goike, Heise, LeBlanc, Liss, MacMaster, Slavens and Tyler offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 118.
A resolution to declare August 2011 as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) kills more children than any other genetic disease; and
Whereas, SMA causes degeneration in voluntary muscle movement
for those impacted by the disease, eventually impacting their ability to walk,
sit, crawl, stand, breathe, eat, and even swallow; and
Whereas, One in every 40 people, or nearly 10 million
Americans, unknowingly carries the gene responsible for SMA. Few have any known
family history; and
Whereas, SMA is a pan-ethnic disease that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or gender; and
Whereas, SMA does not impact the mind. Children with SMA are bright, sensitive, and playful in spite of their failing bodies; and
Whereas, Most children impacted by SMA succumb to the disease before their second birthday; and
Whereas, There is currently no treatment and no cure for SMA, but the National Institutes of Health selected SMA as the disease closest to treatment of more than 600 neurological disorders; and
Whereas The nation's leading researchers signed a statement stressing that, with adequate resources, a viable treatment or cure is attainable in as little as five years; and
Whereas, SMA research is considered a "model" approach, with the potential of benefiting millions of people impacted by other diseases, including ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson' s, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Fragile X, and Tay Sachs, among others; and
Whereas, Increased awareness of SMA will lead to increased knowledge and increased support for both disease research and families affected by the disease, hopefully leading to a cure; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare August 2011 as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. We encourage greater awareness and research for this devastating disease.
