Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/106

 96 STAT. 1468

PUBLIC LAW 97-319—OCT. 14, 1982

Public Law 97-319 97th Congress T • j. TD I ^• ^ Joint Resolution Oct. 14, 1982 [S.J. Res. 249]

rjiQ provide for the designation of the month of October 1982, as "National Spinal Cord Injury Month".

Whereas spinal cord injuries now paralyze over five hundred thousand Americans; Whereas there are twenty thousand new spinal cord injuries per year; Whereas most spinal cord injuries involve young people and are the result of motor vehicle accidents, sports and recreational activities, or of service in our Nation's Armed Forces; Whereas lifetime costs to sustain a person with a spinal cord injury are between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000, representing a major and expensive medical problem for this country; Whereas research advances have permitted scientists to predict that we will be able to prevent and cure paralysis for hundreds of thousands of people; Whereas the general public is unaware of the staggering costs and personal consequences of spinal cord injury; Whereas programs of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and other similar organizations are dedicated to funding research and helping all paralyzed persons; and Whereas an increase in the national awareness of the problem of spinal cord injuries may ease the burden of the victims and families of victims and may stimulate interest in increased research for the cure of spinal cord injury paralysis: Now, therefore, belt Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United National Spinal States of America in Congress assembled. That the month of October Month"^"''^ is designated as "National Spinal Cord Injury Month", and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe that month with appropriate activities. Approved October 14, 1982.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 249 (H.J. Res. 598): CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): Sept. 29, H.J. Res. 598 considered and passed House. Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate and House.

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