,,iv  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #eeg  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,september #ac1     
#bjai,mr4 ,levin of ,michigan 7for      
himself1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey1   
,ms4 ,schakowsky1 and ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick7
 submitted the following resolution2    
which was referred to the ,committee on 
,energy and ,commerce  ,,resolution     
,expressing support for designation of  
,september #bjai1 as ,national ,dystonia
 ,awareness ,month and raising awareness
 and understanding of the disorder of   
dystonia4  ,whereas dystonia is the     
third most common movement disorder1    
affecting no fewer than #bej1jjj people 
in the ,united ,states and millions     
worldwide2 ,whereas dystonia is a       
neurological disorder presenting in     
various forms1 characterized by         
involuntary muscle contractions causing 
abnormal1 often repetitive movements and
 postures2 ,whereas symptoms of dystonia
 may impede the ability to-- 7#a7 walk  
7as in generalized dystonia or limb     

dystonia72  7#b7 control the posture of 
the head 7as in cervical dystonia72     
7#c7 speak 7as in spasmodic dysphonia or
 oromandibular dystonia72  7#d7 see 7as 
in blepharospasm72 and  7#e7 write 7as  
in hand dystonia72  ,whereas there are  
limited treatments for dystonia1 and    
there is currently no cure2 ,whereas    
dystonia is commonly misdiagnosed1      
delaying access to appropriate medical  
care for those affected2 ,whereas trauma
 like that experienced by military      
servicemembers can lead to the onset of 
dystonia2 ,whereas countless friends1   
loved ones1 spouses1 and caregivers must
 shoulder the physical1 emotional1 and  
financial burdens that dystonia causes2 
,whereas the severity of the symptoms of
 dystonia and the limited public        
awareness of the disease cause many     
patients to be isolated2 ,whereas       
,national ,dystonia ,awareness ,month   
will raise public awareness and         
understanding of the disorder of        
dystonia1 a disorder affecting people of

 all ages1 races1 ethnicities1 genders1 
and backgrounds2 ,whereas ,national     
,dystonia ,awareness ,month will also   
foster understanding of the impact the  
various forms of dystonia have on those 
affected and their families2 ,whereas   
the dystonia community is uniting to    
cooperate on awareness efforts          
throughout ,september2 and ,whereas the 
,benign ,essential ,blepharospasm       
,research ,foundation1 the ,dystonia    
,medical ,research ,foundation1 the     
,national ,spasmodic ,dysphonia         
,association1 and the ,national         
,spasmodic ,torticollis ,association are
 dedicated to--  7#a7 conducting        
research to find treatments and a cure  
for dystonia2  7#b7 fostering public    
awareness and understanding of the      
disorder2  7#c7 educating patients and  
their families about dystonia to improve
 their treatment and care2 and  7#d7    
providing support and encouraging people
 to become advocates1 including by      
sponsoring annual patient education     

conferences1 school-based educational   
programs1 and local events to raise     
funds for dystonia research1 education1 
advocacy1 and awareness3 ,now1          
therefore1 be it  ,that the ,house of   
,representatives-- 7#a7 supports the    
designation of ,national ,dystonia      
,awareness ,month2  7#b7 supports the   
goals and ideals of ,national ,dystonia 
,awareness ,month to raise public       
awareness and understanding of dystonia2
  7#c7 recognizes the need for          
additional research to find a cure for  
all forms of dystonia2 and  7#d7        
encourages all people in the ,united    
,states and interested groups to support
 ,national ,dystonia ,awareness ,month  
through activities to promote public    
awareness of dystonia and foster the    
understanding of the impact of dystonia 
on patients and their families4