PRINTER'S NO. 3656
No. 731 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY MANN, BAKER, BELFANTI, BENNINGTON, BEYER, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, M. KELLER, KENNEY, KULA, MAJOR, MANTZ, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MUSTIO, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PAYNE, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCAVELLO, SEIP, STERN, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WOJNAROSKI, PHILLIPS, SAYLOR, CONKLIN, BARRAR, SANTONI, O'NEILL, SOLOBAY, SIPTROTH, MOYER AND FAIRCHILD, MAY 2, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 2, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating the month of May 2008 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" 2 in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases 4 that cause pain, swelling and limited movement in joints and 5 connective tissue throughout the body, the most prevalent forms 6 of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid 7 arthritis; and 8 WHEREAS, Nearly 46 million Americans, representing one in 9 five adults, have arthritis and nearly two-thirds of those 10 people are women; and 11 WHEREAS, Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health 12 problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in 13 the United States; and
1 WHEREAS, Arthritis costs the United States economy $86.2 2 billion per year in medical care and lost wages; and 3 WHEREAS, The specific causes of arthritis are not yet known 4 for most forms of the disease, but there are many things that 5 can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life; 6 and 7 WHEREAS, The key to reducing the impact of arthritis is early 8 diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each 9 individual; and 10 WHEREAS, Most treatment programs include a combination of 11 medication, exercise, rest, use of heat and cold, joint 12 protection techniques and sometimes surgery; therefore be it 13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 14 2008 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge 15 residents of this Commonwealth to be aware of the seriousness of 16 this disease and to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its 17 impact on their lives. D28L82RLE/20080H0731R3656 - 2 -