HJ0017eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0017 Engrossed LRB096 03286 RPM 13304 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 17

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that Alzheimer's disease is the 21st century's health epidemic; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that 10 million baby boomers in the United States will develop Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that one in 8 baby boomers in America will develop Alzheimer's; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, As a result of federally funded Alzheimer research, treatments to delay, halt, or reverse the progression of Alzheimer's disease are within reach; and

WHEREAS, New Alzheimer treatments would save millions of baby boomers from Alzheimer's disease and yield $60 billion in annual Medicare and Medicaid savings within 5 years after a breakthrough; and

WHEREAS, Federal funding to pursue Alzheimer research has remained level for the past 4 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the members of the Illinois delegation to the United States Congress to increase fiscal year 2010 funding for Alzheimer research at the National Institutes of Health by $125 million to find treatments to delay or reverse the progression of Alzheimer's disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.