Cramer Hails Passage of ALS Registry

Press Release

U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (Ala.-05) announced today that the House and Senate have both approved bipartisan legislation to help doctors and scientists identify the symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in patients across the country.

Specifically, the ALS Registry Act will establish a national database of all ALS cases. A national registry would provide data to doctors across the country to help them better understand the causes of ALS. This will offer additional resources to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease as well as a search for its cure.

"North Alabama has been uniquely touched by those who suffer from this debilitating disease," said Cramer. "Family and friends of those with ALS have done a great deal to bring awareness to this disease. I'm pleased that my colleagues in Congress have answered their call for federal support and have approved legislation that will set a path towards providing much-needed ALS information to doctors and scientists studying the causes of this disease."

Representative Cramer has advocated for the creation of an ALS registry for a number of years. He is an original cosponsor of the House version of this bill as well as a similar bill in the 109th Congress. According to the American ALS Association, approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time.

The ALS Association Alabama Chapter holds regular meetings in Huntsville and other cities across the state. They sponsor regular programs and events that bring awareness to ALS as well as raise thousands of dollars for ALS research in the state. More information about the Alabama chapter and how one can help spread awareness of this disease can be found on the chapter's website, http://www.alsalabama.org.

The ALS Registry Act now moves to the White House for the President's signature.

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