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GOOD NEWS!!! NATIONAL PD ORGANIZATIONS INITIATE COORDINATED LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES. PROSPECTS FOR PASSAGE OF THE UDALL BILL IN THE 105TH CONGRESS ARE BETTER THAN EVER. The political action leaders of three key national Parkinson's organizations, who are working to increase government support of PD research, met in Washington this week to begin the formulation of a joint legislative strategy and to establish the basis for close coordination during the new congression session. By working together to develop and carry out a common plan, PAN, NPF, and APDA intend to draw on the strengths of each to use resources more efficiently and to dispell the detrimental perception on Capitol Hill and elsewhere that Parkinsons groups are working at cross purposes. Building on the grass roots support and momentum from the last session, prospects for passage of the Udall bill are improved but still uncertain. Lots of hard work will be needed. On Monday, Joan Samuelson of PAN, Paul Smedberg and Joel Gerstel of APDA, and Larry Hoffheimer of NPF, met with volunteer advocates Deborah and Jim Cordy from Pittsburgh, Ken Aidekman from New Jersey, Bob Martone from Houston and myself (Perry Cohen from Washington DC) to discuss: -- the need for closer coordination and cooperation on common legislative goals -- pros and cons of different ways to achieve these purposes. Today (11/21) a follow-up meeting was held with the 3 advocacy professionals--Joan Samuelson, Larry Hoffheimer, Paul Smedberg-- and myself in a role of planning consultant and voice for volunteer advocates. The meeting produced an important and significant start toward fleshing out a coordinated plan to pass the Udall bill in 1997. The first steps toward a running start for the 105th congress were laid out and agreed to: -- The Udall bill will be reintroduced as a free standing bill in a form similar to the original bill or the bill passed by the Senate as part of the NIH reauthorization. Exact language, principal sponsers and a timeline for introducing the bill will be worked out with participation of all during the next few weeks. Given the visibility earned last session and the strength of our case for additional funding, greater emphasis will be placed on the parallel appropriations track this year. -- A joint letter from the 3 organizations and an inclusive list of all the major institutions in the country doing PD research will be sent to the returning co-sponsers from last year (208 in the House and 51 in the Senate) to inform them about the reintroduced bill and to solicit their support. Joint letterhead is being designed that gives recognition to all under a name such as "Coalition to Fight Parkinson's Disease." -- Help from volunteers and local support groups will be needed to follow-up the letter and to solicit new members. The greatest nationally directed effort will focus on members in the House Commerce Committee and the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. -- It was agreed to hold regular meetings of this Udall steering committee in person when possible or by conference call in order to complete the joint planning and to execute plans. Joan will chair the committee but all will work collegially. Additional planning needs to take place over the next month or two including how to develop a systematic and efficient way to enlist targeted grass root support. To that end one idea is to develop a web site with up to date information on plans, backed by a tracking system and data base. Explicit and detailed plans need to be written and communicated to key advocacy leaders around the country to provide them with a firm basis to give consistent and clear guidence to grass roots energies devoted to writing and visiting legislators in home district offices. This is an important step forward for the Parkinson's community. All involved should be applauded!!!!!!