SR0318 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0318 LRB099 11581 MST 33187 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Anencephaly is a birth defect that results in a child being born without a fully formed skull, scalp, or brain; and

WHEREAS, Anencephaly is caused by an improperly developed neural tube - the part of an embryo that develops into a child's nervous system; and

WHEREAS, In children with anencephaly, the neural tube fails to close during the third and fourth week of pregnancy and stops the development of the fore brain, cerebrum, skull, and scalp; and

WHEREAS, Some children with anencephaly may be born with a rudimentary brain stem that allows basic automatic responses; and

WHEREAS, Babies born with anencephaly are usually blind, deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain; their existing nervous system allows them to breathe and respond to sound or touch but cannot gain consciousness; and

WHEREAS, Almost all babies born with anencephaly will die shortly after birth; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year, about one in every 4,859 children in the United States will be born with anencephaly; and

WHEREAS, Anencephaly is part of the neural tube defect classification of disorders along with spina bifida; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for anencephaly and its exact causes and risk factors are still unknown; and

WHEREAS, Some research suggests that increased ingestion of folic acid early during pregnancy may reduce the risk of anencephaly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the importance of improving awareness and encouraging accurate and early diagnosis of anencephaly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate October 10, 2015 as Anencephaly Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support a State, national, and global commitment to improving access to and developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for anencephaly.