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Ivan, With your permission I would like to use your draft with a few changes for my state. Missouri. Shirley -----Original Message----- From: Ivan M Suzman <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thursday, February 10, 2000 6:41 AM Subject: PD Awareness: Maine House-Senate Resolution >Dear PIEN subscribers, > > Immediately following is the final, revised draft of the Maine >House-Senate Joint Resolution Recognizing Parkinson's Disease >Awareness Month ( April, 2000 ). I have had the honor of >being selected to write this updated and revised draft. I have >been working with Carl Barker, President of the network >of Maine PD support groups, and we have the concurrence of PWP >Karen Bardo of the Maine Parkinson's Society. > >This Resolution draft will be sponsored by my state Representative, >William Norbert (Dem-Portland). He will be reviewing comments >on the text as submitted to him, and will be lining up strong >speakers in both House and Senate. > >The final wording may vary slightly from this draft. > > Your comments are welcome. This draft Resolution may >lead to upcoming legislation to fund a state PD education >program aimed at the legal and medical communities, >and to support patient and caregiver services in >association with a long-awaited plan to create a >sorely-needed PD clinic. > >Ivan > :-) > >^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) > Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) > Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 39 thawing deg. F :-) >******************************************************************** > >DRAFT of MAINE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE PD AWARENESS MONTH RESOLUTION > > >WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease( Paralysis Agitans) is a brain disorder that >usually affects adults >over 40 years of age; however, it can occur in any of three forms: later >life onset Parkinson’s >Disease, young onset Parkinson’s Disease, which affects adults under 40 >years of age, and >juvenile onset Parkinson’s Disease; and > >WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease is estimated to develop in 1 out of 4 >persons over age 80, 1 out >of 10 persons over age 60, and a significant number of those under the >age of 40; and > >WHEREAS, there are 60,000 new patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease >annually in the >United States, one every 9 minutes; and > >WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association there >are approximately >1,500,000 people in the United States diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, >of which an estimated >7,000 or more are in the State of Maine; and > >WHEREAS, more individuals suffer from Parkinson’s Disease than from >Multiple Sclerosis , >Muscular Dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s Disease combined; and > >WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease is a devastating, painful and incurable >brain disorder of >unknown origin that disrupts and may end the lives of those who suffer >from it; and > >WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease often takes an enormous emotional, physical >and financial toll >on the Parkinson’s patient as well as on his or her family and friends; >and > >WHEREAS, the most usual symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease(tremors,slowness >of >movement,shuffling gait, difficulty with balance, lessened facial >expression,malfunction of the >vocal cords,intestinal difficulties and emotional distress ) can be taken >as a normal part of the >aging process; and > >WHEREAS, the cause of Parkinson’s Disease is an unexplained loss of cell >function deep within >the brain and medication can only control some of the symptoms for >uncertain periods of time; >and > >WHEREAS, there is a great need for further training and education in the >health care and the >legal professions to protect the rights of persons with Parkinson’s >Disease ; and > >WHEREAS, there is also an urgent need for a Parkinson’s clinic in Maine >to give easier access to >specialists in Parkinson’s Disease and to provide more effective support >programs and services to >Parkinson’s Disease patients and their caregivers and families; and > >WHEREAS, increased research is needed to help find more effective >treatments and ultimately to >find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease ; and > >WHEREAS, full funding of the federal law, the Morris K. Udall >Parkinson’s Research,Education >and Assistance Act of 1997, directing the National Institute of Health to >spend up to >$100,000,000 annually on Parkinson’s Disease research, is critical ;and > >WHEREAS, April 11th has been proclaimed to be World Parkinson’s Day, a >day for all to >recognize the need for more research and help in dealing with the >devastating effects of >Parkinson’s Disease; and > >WHEREAS, the leading public officials of the State and leading officials >in the State’s medical >community are now called upon to aid in reversing the invisibility and >voicelessness of its citizens >suffering from Parkinson’s Disease; now, therefore, be it > >RESOLVED: That we, the Members of the One Hundred and Twentieth >Legislature, now >assembled in the First Regular Session, recognize the month of April as >Parkinson’s Disease >Awareness Month throughout the State; and be it further > >RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by >the Secretary of State, >be transmitted to the Maine Parkinson Society , the Maine Chapter of the >American Parkinson >Disease Association and the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine..