Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 184
By Senator Hill
1-00223-11 2011184__
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Senate Resolution 1
A resolution recognizing May 12, 2011, as 2 “Fibromyalgia Awareness Day” in Florida. 3
4
WHEREAS, an estimated 10 million people in the United 5 States and millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed as 6 having fibromyalgia, a disease for which there is no known cause 7 or cure, and 8
WHEREAS, it often takes an average of 5 years to receive a 9 diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and medical professionals frequently 10 are inadequately educated on the diagnosis and treatment of 11 fibromyalgia, and 12
WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that is 13 becoming an increasingly common diagnosis and taking a toll 14 emotionally, financially, and socially on patients and their 15 family, friends, coworkers, and communities, and 16
WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a life-altering diagnosis, 17 preventing patients from contributing to society at the level 18 they once did because of myriad symptoms that come and go 19 unpredictably and vary in severity, and 20
WHEREAS, the chronically ill place a larger burden on the 21 health care and insurance systems and on employers due to the 22 costs associated with treatment, medications, and sometimes 23 hospitalizations associated with the disorder, and 24
WHEREAS, society as a whole is also affected when patients 25 are physically unable to work and must depend on government 26 assistance in order to survive, and 27
WHEREAS, increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the 28 realities of fibromyalgia will allow the community at large to 29
Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 184
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better support patients who struggle with the challenges of this 30 chronic pain disorder, as well as their families, friends, 31 coworkers, and employers, and 32
WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association is a 33 nonprofit charitable organization and the publisher of 34 Fibromyalgia AWARE, the first and only consumer magazine that 35 covers fibromyalgia, and 36
WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association, the Fibro 37 Chronic Babes of Jacksonville, and other groups around the 38 country have joined together to promote fibromyalgia awareness 39 and support, including improved education, diagnosis, research, 40 and treatment, and 41
WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association is urging 42 fibromyalgia patients and their supporters, health care 43 providers, and the public to join its efforts on or around May 44 12, 2011, to walk for a solution in their community or 45 participate in an effort to bring awareness to the far-reaching 46 effects of fibromyalgia, NOW, THEREFORE, 47
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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 49
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That May 12, 2011, is recognized as “Fibromyalgia Awareness 51 Day” in Florida, and the Senate urges all Floridians to support 52 the search for a cure and assist individuals and families in 53 dealing with this disorder. 54

Florida Senate - 2010 (NP) SR 800
By Senator Hill
1-00680-10 2010800__
Page 1 of 2
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1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing May 12, 2010, as
3 “Fibromyalgia Awareness Day” in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, an estimated 10 million people in the United
6 States and millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with
7 fibromyalgia, a disease for which there is no known cause or
8 cure, and
9 WHEREAS, it often takes an average of 5 years to receive a
10 diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and medical professionals frequently
11 are inadequately educated on the diagnosis and treatment of
12 fibromyalgia, and
13 WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that is
14 becoming an increasingly common diagnosis and taking a toll
15 emotionally, financially, and socially on patients, their
16 family, friends, coworkers, and communities, and
17 WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is life-altering, preventing patients
18 from contributing to society at the level they once did because
19 of myriad symptoms that can come and go unpredictably and vary
20 in severity, and
21 WHEREAS, the chronically ill place a larger burden on the
22 health care and insurance systems and employers due to the costs
23 associated with treatment, medications, and sometimes
24 hospitalizations associated with the disorder, and
25 WHEREAS, society as a whole is also affected when patients
26 are physically unable to work and must depend on government
27 assistance to survive, and
28 WHEREAS, increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the
29 realities of life with fibromyalgia will allow the community at
Florida Senate - 2010 (NP) SR 800
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30 large to better support patients and their families, friends,
31 coworkers, and employers who struggle with the challenges of
32 this chronic-pain disorder, and
33 WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association is a
34 nonprofit charitable organization and the publisher of
35 Fibromyalgia AWARE, the first and only consumer magazine on
36 fibromyalgia, and
37 WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association and Fibro
38 Chronic Babes of Jacksonville and other groups around the
39 country have joined together to promote fibromyalgia awareness
40 and support, including improved education, diagnosis, research,
41 and treatment, and
42 WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association is urging
43 fibromyalgia patients and their supporters, health care
44 providers, and the public to join its efforts on or around May
45 12, 2010, to walk for a solution in their community or
46 participate in an effort to bring awareness to the far-reaching
47 effects of fibromyalgia, NOW, THEREFORE,
48
49 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
50
51 That May 12, 2010, is recognized as “Fibromyalgia Awareness
52 Day” in Florida, and the Senate urges all Floridians to support
53 the search for a cure and assist individuals and families in
54 dealing with this disorder.

HR 9135 2008
hr9135-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1 House Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing May 12, 2008, as "Fibromyalgia
3 Awareness Day" in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, an estimated 10 million people in the United
6 States — 6 to 8 percent of the population of our country — and
7 millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with
8 fibromyalgia, a disease for which there is no known cause or
9 cure, and
10 WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder — increasing at
11 alarming rates — which causes fatigue and debilitating pain in
12 women, men, and children of all ethnicities, and
13 WHEREAS, patients with this illness often have to learn to
14 live with widespread pain throughout their bodies; extreme
15 fatigue; sleep disorders; stiffness and weakness; migraine
16 headaches; numbness and tingling; and impairment of memory and
17 concentration, and
18 WHEREAS, it often takes an average of 5 years to receive a
19 diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and medical professionals frequently
20 are inadequately educated on the diagnosis and treatment of
21 fibromyalgia, and
22 WHEREAS, increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the
23 realities of life with fibromyalgia will allow the community at
24 large to better support people who struggle with the challenges
25 of this chronic pain disorder, and
26 WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association and other
27 groups around our country have joined together to promote
HR 9135 2008
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
28 fibromyalgia awareness and support, including improved
29 education, diagnosis, research, and treatment, and
30 WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Association is urging
31 fibromyalgia patients and their supporters, healthcare
32 providers, and the general public to be sympathetic to and
33 supportive of fibromyalgia patients and to share the facts about
34 fibromyalgia and the ever-growing awareness about its etiology
35 and potential treatments, and
36 WHEREAS, the community's focus on fibromyalgia and its
37 impact on patients' lives will help guarantee hope for a better
38 future for people with fibromyalgia, and
39 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives recognizes the needs
40 of these chronically ill people and commends the efforts of
41 citizens to support the search for a cure and assist those
42 individuals and families who deal with this devastating disorder
43 on a daily basis, NOW, THEREFORE,
44
45 Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
46 Florida:
47
48 That May 12, 2008, is recognized as "Fibromyalgia Awareness
49 Day" in Florida.
50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
51 presented to the National Fibromyalgia Association as a tangible
52 token of the sentiments expressed herein.

Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HR 9167
By Representative Turnbull
1 House Resolution
2 A resolution designating May 12, 1999, as
3 "Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue
4 Syndrome Awareness Day" in the State of
5 Florida.
6
7 WHEREAS, chronic immunological and neurological
8 diseases such as Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue
9 Syndrome are some of the fastest growing health concerns in
10 the world today, attacking men and women of all ages,
11 ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds, and children, and
12 WHEREAS, these devastating disorders are often
13 characterized by overwhelming fatigue, severe musculoskeletal
14 pain, concentration problems, sleep disorders, cognitive and
15 memory dysfunction, headaches, allergy symptoms, and numerous
16 other problems that usually last a lifetime, and
17 WHEREAS, these perplexing medical conditions are often
18 considered invisible disabilities due to the nature of their
19 symptoms, symptoms that do not always appear obvious to the
20 common observer, and
21 WHEREAS, these illnesses have no known cure and are
22 often further complicated by secondary, coexisting conditions
23 that contribute to additional stress for patients who
24 experience difficulty in performing everyday activities
25 associated with home, family, and community, and
26 WHEREAS, these chronic and debilitating medical
27 conditions interrupt education and employment, denying the
28 basic enjoyment of life and causing the accumulation of
29 tremendous medical expenses, often increasing the need for
30 patients to file for Social Security Disability Income, and
31
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HR 9167
558-153-99
1 WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health and the
2 Centers for Disease Prevention and Control are investigating
3 and attempting to document the concentration, extent, and
4 causes of these syndromes, with the hope of finding a cure,
5 and
6 WHEREAS, the State of Florida recognizes the extent to
7 which many of its citizens suffer with these chronic and often
8 severely debilitating medical conditions, causing them to
9 significantly modify their lives in order to at least
10 minimally cope on a daily basis, and is pleased to join with
11 these patients in devoting a special day to increasing
12 knowledge and understanding about these illnesses, and in
13 supporting valuable medical research into their cause and
14 eventual cure, NOW, THEREFORE,
15
16 Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
17 Florida:
18
19 That the House of Representatives of the State of
20 Florida hereby designates May 12, 1999, as "Fibromyalgia
21 Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day" in the
22 State of Florida.
23
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HR 9111 2007
hr9111-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1 House Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing May 2007 as "Arthritis Awareness
3 Month" in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, arthritis refers to more than 100 different
6 diseases that cause pain, swelling, and limited movement in
7 joints and connective tissue throughout the body, the most
8 prevalent forms of which are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and
9 rheumatoid arthritis, and
10 WHEREAS, nearly 46 million American adults have been
11 diagnosed with arthritis and almost 3 million Floridians are
12 affected by arthritis, and
13 WHEREAS, arthritis is one of the most common chronic health
14 problems and the number one cause of limitation in movement in
15 the United States and costs Americans approximately $128 billion
16 and Florida approximately $5.1 billion in direct and indirect
17 expenses and costs, and
18 WHEREAS, the Arthritis Foundation's mission is to improve
19 lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of
20 arthritis and related diseases, and the Florida Chapter of the
21 Arthritis Foundation and the Department of Health of the State
22 of Florida work to protect and promote the health of Floridians
23 and extend efforts to prevent disease and injury, and
24 WHEREAS, the month of May, as National Arthritis Month,
25 allows time for people to become aware and to take control of
26 their arthritis, to seek preventive measures against its painful
27 and debilitating effects, and to modify their lifestyles and
28 activities in the pursuit of optimum health, NOW, THEREFORE,
HR 9111 2007
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29
30 Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
31 Florida:
32
33 That the House of Representatives recognizes the month of
34 May 2007 as "Arthritis Awareness Month" in Florida and urges all
35 men and women to be aware of the seriousness of this disease and
36 to seek appropriate treatment to minimize its impact on their
37 lives.
38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
39 presented to the Florida Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and
40 the Department of Health of the State of Florida as a tangible
41 token of the sentiments expressed herein.