HR0306 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0306 LRB095 11897 KXB 35087 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The term arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints, as well as other parts of the body; arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Arthritis Foundation is the largest non-governmental contributor to arthritis research in the United States; the Arthritis Foundation has funded more than $350 million in research grants since its inception in 1948; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis; and

WHEREAS, 46 million adults, or one in five, in the United States have a diagnosis of arthritis; 300,000 children have some form of rheumatic condition in the United States; and the annual cost of arthritis is $128 billion; and

WHEREAS, The Arthritis Foundation is working to inform the public, providing programs and services for people with arthritis; and

WHEREAS, The Arthritis Foundation funds research and ensures that the funding is used in the most strategic manner possible; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim May of 2007 and each year thereafter as Arthritis Awareness Month in the State of Illinois and encourage the citizens of the State to take time to research and understand this disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Arthritis Foundation as a symbol of our respect for its hard work in this important field.