Rhode Island HR 8563: HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 2026, TO BE "ALS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Bill Text

2026 -- H 8563 
======== 
LC006038 
======== 
S T A T E     O F     R H O D E     I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 
____________ 
 
H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N 
PROCLAIMING MAY 2026, TO BE "ALS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF 
RHODE ISLAND 
Introduced  By: Representatives  Felix,  Blazejewski,  Kazarian,  Chippendale,  Kennedy, 
Ajello, Phillips, Shallcross Smith, Boylan, and Hopkins 
Date Introduced: May 19, 2026 
Referred To: House read and passed 
 
 
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic  Lateral Sclerosis  (ALS),  known  by  many  as  Lou  Gehrig's 1 
disease,  is  a  progressive  fatal  neurodegenerative  disease  in  which  a  person's  brain  loses 2 
connection  with  the  muscles,  slowly  taking  away  their  ability  to  walk,  talk,  eat,  and  eventually 3 
breathe; and 4 
WHEREAS, An estimated 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS 5 
at  any  given  time,  with approximately  5,600  people  diagnosed each  year, and over  352,000 6 
people affected worldwide annually; and 7 
WHEREAS, Approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, and every 90 8 
minutes someone loses their battle with the disease; and 9 
WHEREAS,  On  average,  patients  diagnosed  with  ALS  survive only two  to  five  years 10 
from the time of diagnosis; and 11 
WHEREAS,  ALS  has  no  cure  and  can  strike  anyone  regardless of  race,  sex,  age,  or 12 
ethnicity; and 13 
WHEREAS,   Securing   access   to   new   therapies,   durable   medical   equipment,   and 14 
communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS; and 15 
WHEREAS,  Clinical  trials  play  a  pivotal  role  in  evaluating  new treatments,  enhancing 16 
quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and 17 
WHEREAS, Persons who have served in the military are approximately twice as likely to 18 
develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and  19 

 
 
 
LC006038 - Page 2 of 2 
WHEREAS,  The  U.S.  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  recognizes  ALS  as  a  service-1 
connected disease; and  2 
WHEREAS,  The  ALS  Association,  as  the  largest  philanthropic  funder  of  ALS  research 3 
globally, has committed over $162 million to support nearly 600 projects across the United States 4 
and 20 other  countries.  The  Association's  commitment  to  accelerating  the  pace  of  discovery 5 
remains unwavering, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone, 6 
everywhere, until a cure can be found; and 7 
WHEREAS,  The  purpose  of  ALS  Awareness  Month  is  to  raise  public  awareness  about 8 
ALS,  show  support  for  those  affected  by  this  relentless  disease,  and  give  recognition  to  those 9 
working to find a cure; now, therefore be it  10 
RESOLVED, That  this  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  hereby 11 
proclaims May 2026, to be "ALS Awareness Month." We furthermore urge all the citizens of the 12 
State to educate themselves about ALS and to help combat this disease by all means possible; and 13 
be it further 14 
RESOLVED,  That  the  Secretary  of  State  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  and  directed  to 15 
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to ALS United RI.  16 
======== 
LC006038 
========