Read the full stored bill text
*JMB711* 04/08/2026 3:51:09 PM JMB711
State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 HR 1017 3
4
By: Representative Painter 5
6
7
HOUSE RESOLUTION 8
TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE MAY 2026 AS AMYOTROPHIC 9
LATERAL SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH IN THIS STATE. 10
11
12
Subtitle 13
TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE MAY 2026 AS 14
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AWARENESS 15
MONTH IN THIS STATE. 16
17
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also commonly known as Lou 18
Gehrig's disease or ALS, is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease in 19
which a person's brain loses connection with his or her muscles, slowly 20
reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe; and 21
22
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis impacts not only the person 23
diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but also their families and 24
communities; and 25
26
WHEREAS, thousands of new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases are 27
reported every year, and estimates show that every ninety (90) minutes, 28
someone is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and someone passes 29
away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and 30
31
WHEREAS, on average, patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral 32
sclerosis survive only two (2) to four (4) years from the time of diagnosis; 33
and 34
35
WHEREAS, the exact causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are unknown, 36
HR1017
2 04/08/2026 3:51:09 PM JMB711
and there is no known cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and 1
2
WHEREAS, people who have served in the military are more likely to 3
develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis than those with no history of military 4
service; and 5
6
WHEREAS, securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, 7
and communication technologies upon lose of speech is of vital importance to 8
people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and 9
10
WHEREAS, clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new 11
treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies 12
for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and 13
14
WHEREAS, the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of 15
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research globally and has committed more than 16
one hundred sixty-two million dollars ($162,000,000) to support more than six 17
hundred (600) projects across the United States and twenty (20) other 18
countries; and 19
20
WHEREAS, the ALS Association is committed to make amyotrophic lateral 21
sclerosis livable and curable for everyone, everywhere by working in 22
communities to provide care services, equipment, advocacy, and research 23
support; and 24
25
WHEREAS, efforts should continue to bring awareness to the community, 26
healthcare providers, caregivers, and the general public, and support should 27
be given to people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, their families 28
and caregivers, and healthcare providers who treat amyotrophic lateral 29
sclerosis; and 30
31
WHEREAS, by recognizing May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 32
Awareness Month, the House of Representatives provide an opportunity to 33
increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with 34
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, acknowledge the terrible impact this disease 35
has on those individuals and their families and communities, and show support 36
HR1017
3 04/08/2026 3:51:09 PM JMB711
for research to eradicate this disease, 1
2
NOW THEREFORE, 3
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 4
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 5
6
THAT the House of Representatives: 7
(1) Recognize and celebrate May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral 8
Sclerosis Awareness Month in Arkansas; and 9
(2) Encourage support of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research, 10
advocate for increased funding, and stand in solidarity with those affected 11
by this relentless disease. 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36