Dear Anne and Ed:
Thanks for the kind works about the Parkinson Action Networks forum in
Washington. Most of the attendees paid their own way. Some were given
partial funding by their support groups. The forum was called "INVISIBLE NO
MORE." PAN's 1st Public Policy Forum.
There are two bills of special interest to the Parkinson's community.
1. "Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research, Education and
Assistance Act"
This is an authorization act which is the first part of of the process
of getting money to do something. An authorization act tells
Congress if there is money available, it has been authorized to
allocate some of it for this bill. Once an authorization act has
passed, the next thing to do is introduce an appropations bill.
This bill would appropate money to be spent on the authorization
act. I sounds like a complicated process, but all bills have gone
thru this process.
2. "Harkin/Hatfield Fund for Health Research"
This act establishes a health research fund to be used to further
fund medical research. The bill asks for a 1% charge on health
insurance premiums. This would become the source of funds for
the Mo Udall bill. This bill is part of one of the five health plans
currently under consideration by Congress. Some of the plans
exclude this surcharge, some ask for 1/4% and this one asks for
a full 1%.
The Mo Udall bill means little or nothing if there is no money to spend on
it. That is why the Research Fund is so important. I do not think it is
right to say the PD research is more important than AIDS or Breast Cancer or
the many other disease. Thus it is important to find new money to support PD
research.
I hope this gives you some idea of what this is all about. Letters to
Congress are needed that tell your story about having PD. Ask them to
co-sonsor the two bills. Ask for a response on their commitment to these two
bills. If you do not know address etc., check your local paper. They are
usually printed one or more times each week.
And, Anne, Canada has some excellent research facilities. I am sure they are
in need of new funds for research. It is time to be "INVISIBLE NO MORE."
Regards,
Alan Bonander ([log in to unmask])
