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I started writing this the first of last week, after I took it down off the WWW, it got sent back to me 4 times for the wrong address or something. Anyway Barbara and Bob Fink helped me straighten it all out. Here goes. STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS (Senate - April 6, 1990) THE MORRIS K UDALL PARKINSON'S RESEARCH ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION ACT OF 1995. Sen HATFIELD S5405 PARKINSON'S DISEASE S5406 Mr. Hatfield. Mr. President, if you want to know more about Parkinson's disease all you have to do is read the newspaper or watch the nightly news. You don't even have to read the whole paper, the information is usually on page 1. Prestigious and international papers such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal believe that the news is worthy of front page coverage. Prime Time' had a feature on Parkinson's, adn our very own Washington Post devoted three pages to promising new developments. What has caused the media fervor is the exciting new and dramatic medical discovery in the field of neurology and neurosurgery. As I speak, scientists are uncovering new, important date on nerve cell function and repair. Our biomedical research teams are on the cusp of breaking the code to nerve regeneration. In these times of exciting new developments, we a unfortunately encountering a financial impediment. Last year, the Federal funding for Parkinson's disease at the NIH was $26 million. To put that number in prospective, the annual Federal budget for Alzheimers is $300 million, $1 billion each for cancer and heart disease. Our Committment to eradicating Parkinson's disease is minuscule in comparison. I cannot understand the lack of financial support for a disease that affects over 1 million Americans and cost our society over $6 billion a year. This disease is so widespread that esach one of us has a close friend or loved one who is facing the challenge of life with Parkinson's. We must change our message to the American public and declare that increased Federal funding for Parkinson's research is a worthy investment in the future health of our nation. Today, I am pleased to reintroduce legislation that accomplishes that goal. The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research, Assistance, and Education Act of 1995, increases the Federal investment in Parkinson's research to $100 million for fiscal year 1996. The bill establishes an Interagency Coordinating Council, composed of representatives from the relevant agencies and NIH, which will develop a straegic plan for Parkinson's research. At the heart of the bill is the funding of Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Centers which will conduct basic and clinical research ad patient care. Having these three individual areas of research and treatment linked in a center will assure tha the research developments will be coordinated an the quality of patient care will be gretly improved. In addition, the centers may develop teaching programs for health professionand and dissemination programs for public information. To compile necessary data on patiens and their families a clearinghouse will be established. Morris K. Udall Leadeship and Escellence Awards will be granted to scientists who excel in Parkinson's research. Finally, a national Parkinson's Disease Education Program will be established to provide technical assistance to advocacy groups and facilitate public understanding of Parkinson's. This important legislation honors Mo Udall, a dedicated Congressman from the Second District in Arizona. For 30 years, Mo represented his constituents with integrity, compassion, and humor. He is remembered for his stewardship of the public lands by setting aside millions of acres of wilderness. He also championed civil rights and political reform in 1980. Congressman Udall was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and struggled with the neurologic decay for years. He resigned from Congress in 1991, his careet prematurely and tragically ended. Other famous individuals such as Mohammed Ali and Harry S Truman have all succumebed to this disease which knows no boundaries and strikes without warning. For Moe Udall and millions of Americans who suffer from Parkinson's, we must enact this legistation now. By uniting the advocacy groups, the scientist, the caregivers, the patients, and their families, we can become a solidified and cohesive group didicated to alleviating the hardship of Parkinson's. We must give our world-respected researchers the funding and the time to combat this and other neurological diseasses, and improve the future health of all Americans. /////// I hope all of you, that have the addresses of the Congress, and those sitting in the seats of Power in Washington, will inundate them with messages asking that the vote for this Joint Resolution/ Dick Dillard