Whereas multiple sclerosis can impact people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, but is more common (at least 2–3 times) in women than men; Whereas over 2,000,000 individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; Whereas multiple sclerosis is typically diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, but it is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 children and adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis in the United States; Whereas multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body; Whereas symptoms of multiple sclerosis range from numbness and tingling, to vision problems and paralysis, and the progress, severity, and specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis in any one person cannot yet be predicted; Whereas while there is no evidence that multiple sclerosis is directly inherited, studies show that there are genetic and environmental factors that give certain individuals a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis; Whereas the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown and there is no cure; Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, a national network of independent multiple sclerosis organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all those affected by multiple sclerosis, recognizes and supports Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week; Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is to increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for the benefit of the multiple sclerosis community; Whereas the United States plays a critical role in coordinating multiple sclerosis research globally and amplifies the impact of research in the United States through which results are delivered to multiple sclerosis patients