LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 2015, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in
New York State

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to help increase
awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens
of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2015 as Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Every day, an average of 15 people are newly diagnosed with
ALS; and annually, more than 5,600 new ALS patients are diagnosed
throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, As many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given
time, and annually, ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000
people; and
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is better known as Lou
Gehrig's Disease; and
WHEREAS, ALS is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease char-
acterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and lower motor
neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn of the spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the skeletal
muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
WHEREAS, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences difficulty in
swallowing, talking and breathing; and
WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and patients in the
later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed; and
WHEREAS, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and aware of their
loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued deteri-
oration and death; and
WHEREAS, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between 40 and 70
years of age, with the peak age of about 55, and affects both men and
women without bias; and
WHEREAS, The ALS Association reports that on average, patients diag-
nosed with ALS only survive two to five years from the time of diagno-
sis; and
WHEREAS, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
WHEREAS, Research indicates that ALS affects military veterans at
twice the rate of the general population; and
WHEREAS, A national ALS patient registry, administered by the Centers
for Disease Control, is currently identifying cases of ALS in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month increases the
public's awareness of ALS patients' circumstances and acknowledges the
terrible impact this disease has not only on patients but on their fami-
lies as well; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2015, as Amyotroph-
ic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.