from Michael Claeys, Parkinson's Action Network
November 13, 1997

It=92s Official=97Udall Bill Becomes Law!

This morning in the East Room of the White House, President Clinton
signed into law the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education
(Labor/HHS) Appropriations bill for fiscal year 1998.  With that
signature, the Parkinson=92s community reached a historic milestone in th=
e
quest for a cure=97enactment of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson=92s Researc=
h
Act of 1997.

After an intensive four-year campaign, the Udall bill=97the nation=92s fi=
rst
legislation specifically focused on Parkinson=92s research=97has now beco=
me
the law of the land.  To pursue a cure, the Udall bill authorizes the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) to devote up to $100 million for
research focused on Parkinson=92s in 1998, and such sums as necessary in
1999 and 2000.  The bill also authorizes the establishment of up to 10
Udall Parkinson=92s Research Centers (large, flexible grants for multiple
investigators and multi-disciplinary research) and Udall Awards for
Excellence for individual investigators with records of innovation and
achievement.  Additionally, the bill includes provisions supporting an
information clearinghouse for demographic and statistical data on
Parkinson=92s patients.  (For a copy of the Udall bill, please contact th=
e
Network.)

"The Udall bill is critically important to the present and future
sufferers of Parkinson=92s disease, their families and to the country,"
said Udall sponsor, Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN).  Joining Senator
Wellstone to lead the bill to Congressional passage were Senator John
McCain (R-AZ) and Congressmen Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman
(D-CA).  Aided by a nationwide network of grassroots advocate, this year
these Congressional champions added the names of 64 of their Senate and
256 of their House colleagues as cosponsors of the bill.

This strong support lead to the bill being amended to the Senate FY98
Labor/HHS bill, by an overwhelming 95-3 vote.  Senate and House
negotiators then came together to resolve differences between their
respective versions of the Labor/HHS bill, finally agreeing on a joint
conference report which included a slightly altered version of the Udall
bill.  It is this conference report which passed the full House and
Senate last weekend and was today ratified by the President.

Again, a great debt of gratitude is owed our Congressional sponsors, as
well as all the Members who cosponsored and voted for the Udall bill
along the way.  The grassroots community also deserves tremendous credit
for all their hard work=97from writing letters to lobbying in the halls o=
f
Congress=97and providing the strength and momentum that led to today=92s
celebration.

While we enjoy this moment, passage of the Udall bill is by no means the
end of the road.  Realizing increased annual appropriations for
Parkinson=92s research will require ongoing efforts=97including working w=
ith
the Clinton Administration as well as Congress.  Furthermore, continuing
dialogue with the NIH will be necessary to ensure that the Congressional
directives are being followed and the best possible research is being
pursued.  The Parkinson=92s community will also be working to have a voic=
e
in the development of policies and regulation that affect it=97including
those of the Food & Drug Administration, the Health Care Financing
Agency and others.

The passage of the Udall bill demonstrates the effectiveness and
importance of an informed and active patient population.  Through the
Udall campaign, Parkinson=92s disease and those it affects have become
increasingly visible to the nation and our government.  The community
must now continue this momentum and make today=92s victory the first of
many on the path towards the ultimate cure for Parkinson=92s.

The Parkinson=92s Action Network is preparing a special "Udall Passage"
mailing to provide information, analysis and a look toward the future.
Please don=92t hesitate to contact the Network with any questions,
comments or requests.  Phone: (800) 850-4726; fax: (707)544-2363; email:
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