LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim Wednesday, July 15, 2009, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS) Awareness Day in New York State in honor of Diane Rivera-Riportel-
la

WHEREAS, Each year Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly
known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is responsible for nearly two deaths per
100,000 people; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 5,600 people in the United States are newly
diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis each year; and
WHEREAS, Three hundred thousand people alive today in the United
States will die with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; and
WHEREAS, Diane Rivera-Riportella of Bronx, New York, has been battling
this horrific disease for approximately two years; and
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenera-
tive disease for which there is no known cause, cure, or means of
control; and
WHEREAS, The incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is five times
higher than Huntington's Disease and about equal to that of Multiple
Sclerosis; and
WHEREAS, In order to assist those living with ALS and their families,
the ALS Association is asking the United States Congress to enact legis-
lation which would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention to create and maintain a single nationwide ALS registry; and
WHEREAS, Since studies have shown that ALS occurs at a greater rate
among veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the ALS Association is
also asking Congress to fund research by the United States Department of
Defense (DOD) which could yield important clues and data about ALS which
will benefit all people suffering from ALS and would help our nation
make progress toward finding treatments and a cure for this devastating
disease; and
WHEREAS, The United States Congress is also being asked by the ALS
Association to support initiatives, such as the reauthorization of the
Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which will eliminate bureaucratic barri-
ers and speed the development of new treatments for ALS; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with the great pride it takes in recognizing offi-
cial days established to increase awareness of serious illnesses which
affect the lives of many New Yorkers, it is the sense of this Legisla-
tive Body to set aside July 15, 2009, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS) Awareness Day in New York State in order to increase public aware-
ness and understanding of ALS, to realize the significance of this
disease, and to appreciate the urgent need to find a cure for it; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim Wednesday, July 15,
2009, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Day in New York
State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York, and to the ALS Association.