H-1730.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4014

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Romero, Hankins, Grant, Ruderman and D. Schmidt

Read first time 02/18/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Requesting an increase in federal funding for stroke research.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Strokes are the leading cause of death in the United States of America; and

    WHEREAS, Strokes are also the leading cause of disability in the United States; and

    WHEREAS, The American Heart Association estimates that in this year alone in the United States approximately six hundred thousand strokes will occur, and that approximately two hundred thousand deaths will ensue as a result of these strokes; and

    WHEREAS, The incidence of stroke in young people is increasing in the United States; and

    WHEREAS, African-Americans have the highest incidence of stroke of any segment of the population in the United States; and

    WHEREAS, While the ability to treat strokes in the last decade has increased significantly in the United States, a great deal of work must still be done, especially in the areas of diagnosis, emergency treatment, and prevention; and

    WHEREAS, Awareness of stroke risk and symptoms needs to be heightened among all Americans so that we will be alert to this risk; and

    WHEREAS, Although it is the third leading cause of death in the United States, stroke risk in 1998 received the least amount of federal research funds of the five major diseases; and

    WHEREAS, The American Heart Association is launching a nine-month, concerted effort to alert members of Congress about the urgent need and responsibility for more funding for stroke research;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the members of Congress increase federal funding for stroke research.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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