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Recognizing National Sleep Awareness Week; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, National Sleep Awareness Week will be observed Monday, April 1 through Sunday, April 7, 2002, and will explore its theme "Sleep for Success"; and

WHEREAS, National Sleep Awareness Week is a major public awareness campaign sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation to promote the importance of quality sleep to health, productivity, and safety; and

WHEREAS, sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are major public health problems confronting the American public which have not been adequately addressed by the medical profession; and

WHEREAS, the National Sleep Commission estimated that 40 million Americans suffer from undiagnosed and untreated, or misdiagnosed and mistreated, chronic sleep disorders; and

WHEREAS, sleep apnea is now recognized as a major reversible, underrecognized, and undertreated illness which is a major cause of many common health conditions and resulting in thousands of motor vehicle accidents and injuries; and

WHEREAS, the absence of awareness of these problems relating to sleep is so pervasive and the consequences are potentially so dire as to constitute a national emergency in the opinion of some experts; and

WHEREAS, National Sleep Awareness Week was initiated to provide to the American public the benefits of the research knowledge accumulated in the field of sleep which can save lives; and

WHEREAS, National Sleep Awareness Week provides a focus of activity involving the National Sleep Foundation, its sponsors, the media, and thousands of citizens across the country who commit to "Wake America to the Importance of Sleep."

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the observance of National Sleep Awareness Week, April 1 through April 7, 2002, and express their support for the worthy goals and objectives of the National Sleep Foundation on behalf of the health and safety of the American public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the National Sleep Foundation.