HR0136 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0136 LRB094 10742 CSA 41162 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Brain Awareness Week is an international effort organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives to advance public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research; the Dana Alliance is joined in the campaign by partners in the United States and around the world, including medical and research organizations, patient advocacy groups, the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies, service groups, hospitals and universities, K-12 schools, and professional organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Pilot Club of Jacksonville is participating in this year's Brain Awareness Week; the Club is one of over 470 clubs in Pilot International, a global organization of executive, business, and professional leaders working together to improve the quality of life in local communities and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Pilot International provides guidance and encouragement to communities through sponsorship of safety and security awareness programs, especially as they relate to brain-related disorders; and

WHEREAS, Each year thousands of Illinoisans are diagnosed with devastating disorders of the brain, including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, and communication disorders, all of which cause considerable pain and suffering; and

WHEREAS, We are reaching a new era of discovery based on the rapid progress that is being made in the study of the brain and the powerful new tools available to neuroscientists; and

WHEREAS, These technical advances have already greatly benefited people who are incapacitated by spinal cord injuries, depressive disorders, epileptic seizures, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and other life-threatening disorders; and

WHEREAS, New insights from neuroscience research will give us a more concise understanding of how people become addicted to drugs and thereby provide more effective treatments for those with chemical dependencies; and

WHEREAS, Scientists at Illinois' premiere universities, private colleges, and research institutes are at the forefront of many of the most promising efforts to understand the complexities of the brain, to alleviate the pain and suffering associated with brain disorders and reduce the cost of treating neurological diseases; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the week of March 14-20, 2005, as Brain Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Pilot Club of Jacksonville.