2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1685/1
DJW:klm&wlj
April 15, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives Subeck, Kaufert, Bare, Brown, Clancy, DeSmidt, Emerson, Joers, Kitchens, Knodl, Madison, McCarville, Melotik, Miresse, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, Ortiz-Velez, Piwowarczyk, Roe, Stubbs, Tranel, Udell, Vining and Wittke, cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Drake, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wanggaard and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Rules.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AJR23,1,2
1Relating to: designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease
2Awareness Months. AJR23,1,53Whereas, Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease 4and is the second-most-common neurodegenerative disease in the United States; 5and AJR23,1,76Whereas, Parkinson’s disease is estimated to affect approximately one million 7people in the United States, and the prevalence will rise to 1.2 million by 2030; and AJR23,1,98Whereas, 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year in 9the United States; and AJR23,1,1110Whereas, Parkinson’s disease is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United 11States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and AJR23,1,1412Whereas, it is estimated that the economic burden of Parkinson’s disease is at 13least $52 billion annually, including direct costs, such as treatment, and indirect 14costs, such as lost income; and AJR23,2,3
1Whereas, research suggests the cause of Parkinson’s disease is a combination 2of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause of the disease is still 3unknown; and AJR23,2,64Whereas, there is no objective test or biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, and 5there is presently no cure or drug that slows or halts the progression of the disease; 6and AJR23,2,107Whereas, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person and 8can include tremors; slowness of movement; rigidity; cognitive impairment; 9dementia; mood disorders; difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing, and 10speaking; and a variety of other nonmotor symptoms; and AJR23,2,1311Whereas, volunteers, researchers, caregivers, and medical professionals are 12working to improve the quality of life of persons living with Parkinson’s disease and 13their families; and AJR23,2,1814Whereas, increased research, education, and community support services, 15such as those provided by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Davis Phinney 16Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation, Wisconsin Parkinson Association, and other 17organizations, are needed to find more effective treatments and to provide access to 18quality care to those living with the disease today; now, therefore, be it AJR23,2,2119Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That April 2025 and 20April 2026 are hereby designated Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Months in 21Wisconsin.