[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S.J. Res. 35 Introduced in Senate (IS)] 103d CONGRESS 1st Session S. J. RES. 35 To designate the month of November 1993, and the month of November 1994, each as ``National Alzheimer's Disease Month''. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 28 (legislative day, January 5), 1993 Mr. Pressler introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ JOINT RESOLUTION To designate the month of November 1993, and the month of November 1994, each as ``National Alzheimer's Disease Month''. Whereas over 4 million United States citizens are affected by Alzheimer's disease, a surprisingly common degenerative disease which attacks the brain, impairs memory and thinking, alters behavior, and renders its victims incapable of self care; Whereas it is estimated that by the middle of the 21st century, Alzheimer's disease will strike 14 million United States citizens, affecting 1 in every 3 families; Whereas Alzheimer's disease is not a normal consequence of aging, but a disorder of the brain for which no cause has been determined and no treatment or cure has been found; Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the quintessential long-term care problem, requiring constant full-time care for its victims, who can suffer from the disease for 3 to 20 years, at a total annual cost to the Nation of at least $90 billion; Whereas families of Alzheimer's patients bear the overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial burden of care, and neither public programs, including medicare, nor private insurance provide protection for most of these families; Whereas 80 percent of all Alzheimer's patients receive care in their own homes; Whereas nearly half of all residents of nursing homes suffer from Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia; and Whereas increased national awareness of Alzheimer's disease and recognition of national organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association may stimulate increased commitment to long-term care services to support Alzheimer's patients and their families and a greater investment in research to discover methods to prevent the disease, delay its onset, and eventually to find a cure for the disease: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the months of November 1993, and November 1994, are each designated as ``National Alzheimer's Disease Month'', and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such months with appropriate ceremonies and activities. <all>