Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as ALS ) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is between 2 and 5 years after the date on which the individual receives an ALS diagnosis; Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries; Whereas ALS may affect any individual in any location; Whereas the cause of ALS is unknown in up to 90 percent of cases; Whereas approximately 10 percent of cases have a strong known genetic driver; Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which an individual first experiences symptoms of ALS and the date on which the individual is diagnosed with ALS is more than 1 year; Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness, and the progression of ALS results in the further weakening, wasting, and paralysis of— (1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and (2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as speech, swallowing, and breathing; Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age but predominantly strikes adults; Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of individuals in the United States have ALS at any given time; Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United States, more than 5,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, and 15 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each day; Whereas every 90 minutes an individual dies from ALS; Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of respiratory failure; Whereas military veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than those with no history of military service; Whereas as of the date of introduction of this resolution, there is no cure for ALS; Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of individuals living with ALS provide support to those individuals with love, day-to-day care, and more