HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2026 TO BE "MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

H8306

2026 -- H 8306
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LC006078
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2026 TO BE "MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS
MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Alzate, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, DeSimone,
Batista, Felix, Hull, Furtado, and Sanchez

Date Introduced:
March 17, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central
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nervous system, affecting approximately one million individuals in the United States.
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Approximately 10,000 new cases of Multiple Sclerosis are diagnosed in the United States each
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year, and the disease is more prevalent in women than men; and
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WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis causes damage to the central nervous system when
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overactive immune cells attack myelin, the protective covering of nerve fibers, resulting in
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inflammation which, over time, causes lesions that harden into scar tissue, known as "sclerosis";
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and
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WHEREAS, Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by unpredictable symptoms such as
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fatigue, numbness, weakness, cognitive impairments such as optic neuritis and mobility
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challenges, which often lead to significant disability; and
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WHEREAS, While there are a variety of treatments available to slow the progression of
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Multiple Sclerosis, there are currently no treatments that can stop or reverse the damage caused
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by the disease. Damage to the central nervous system can occur even before an individual
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experiences symptoms, therefore the best chance to reduce long-term disability is during the early
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phase of the disease. Early and accurate diagnosis gives individuals the best chance of living a
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normal or near-normal life; and
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WHEREAS, Increased awareness of Multiple Sclerosis can promote understanding,
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support, and access to resources for those living with the disease, as well as encourage

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advancements in research, treatment, and quality-of-life initiatives; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island has the second-highest rate of Multiple Sclerosis in the United
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States, behind only Washington, D.C., with a rate of approximately 36 cases per 10,000 residents,
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significantly higher than the national average; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims March of 2026 to be "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode
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Island; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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LC006078
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