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MARYLAND RESIDENTS-Write to Sen. Mikulski! This is what I wrote: July 13, 1995 Arlene S. Allen 9928 Brixton Lane Bethesda, MD 20817 [log in to unmask] Sen. Barbara Mikulski U.S. Senate Washington, DC [log in to unmask] Re: Udall Bill Dear Senator Mikulski: Thank you for your work on the Udall Bill. I did not know how important it was until recently, when my husband recently retired from public service because he felt too weak to work. It was only afterwards that he was diagnosed as having Parkinson's Disease. If he is typical, he could have continued to contribute to the economy for many more years. As I see it, he is representative of all of the thousands of people in the nation who have been forced to cease working due to a disabling--yet, possibly preventable-- disease. Surely, if a disease such as Parkinson's can be prevented, it is in the best interests of the State and the Nation, as well as the victim, to find a cure that will enable these citizens to maintain health and remain employed. Parkinson's Disease has been greatly underfunded, receiving only $26 per patient annually in research dollars, as opposed to $258 for Multiple Sclerosis and $295 for Cancer. Promising breakthroughs are in the offing right now! The $100 million allocation of the Udall bill is cost effective because that amount is far less than the estimated $6 billion needed to sustain patients--such as my husband, through SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, and the insurance system. Our country cannot afford to continue to ignore this growing problem. Your continued support is crucial. Sincerely, Arlene S. Allen