Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2365, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act.

I am honored to rise in support today of this bipartisan legislation. Our work here today will allow people, of all backgrounds, who have experiences with Parkinson's to have hope for a future with more research, treatments, and cures.

This bipartisan legislation will bring diverse federal and non- federal stakeholders together along with patients and caregivers, to build a national strategy for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cures for different forms of Parkinson's Disease.

This bill is also a historic step in our federal government's work to research and share data on this disease, following the model of the National Alzheimer's Project Act which became law in 2011.

Parkinsons's disease, affecting more than 1 million people in the United States and nearly 10 million people worldwide, is the second most common and fastest-growing neurological disease. Although typical diagnosis occurs around age 50, this is not an ``older person'' disease and does not look the same for every patient. When a large population of people have a disease like Parkinson's disease, it is a matter of life or death to have an accurate understanding of how many people have the disease, where they live and why they have it. Shining a light on research that looks not only at genetic factors but also environmental factors, will provide promise for all aspects of the disease and potential triggers.

I want to thank my colleagues, Chairwoman McMorris Rogers, Representative Tonko, Representative Wexton, and Representative Bilirakis, for working with us to ensure we as a country take this historic step in combating Parkinson's disease on all fronts. It is a wonderful legacy to our champions to name the legislation after two tenacious fighters who will not and did not succumb to the disease without making a mark.

Although Rep. Wexton believes that many of the benefits from this legislation may not come to fruition in her battle against the disease, I disagree. The fact that she is fighting every single day, with grace, strength, and humor, is the motivating benefit from today. We see her face and hear her clear voice in every aspect of this bill. Her sheer determination, with the thousands of advocates who have shared their stories, brought us all together today and will be honored in this work.

This bipartisan work before us is the backbone of our Committee, and I am pleased we once again embraced the same principles to ensure that all patients are included in a plan to end this deadly illness. It is my deep belief that this legislation will make significant strides to end Parkinson's and will provide our family members, caregivers, and friends with real hope.

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