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The Morris is K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act has a full set of cosponsors, and the 1997 bill will be introduced soon. To push Udall to passage, the grassroots advocacy campaign is rolling as well. McCAIN LEADS THE WAY IN SENATE! In a major advance for the Parkinson's community, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona has committed to become the bill's new lead Republican Senate sponsor. McCain takes the place of retired Senator Mark Hatfield, joining with Minnesota Democrat Paul Wellstone to serve as the bill's bipartisan leaders in the Senate. They say they will work to duplicate the 1996 campaign --62 Senate co-sponsors, and unanimous passage--and soon. UPTON & WAXMAN READY IN HOUSE! Republican Fred Upton and Democrat Henry Waxman will introduce and lead the Udall effort in the House of Representatives. Upton and Waxman's leadership continues an effort which saw a huge jump in House support for Parkinson's research, reaching 241 co-sponsors by the term's end. The challenge now is to develop the same or more support and, most importantly, push the bill from the House Commerce Committee to the floor for a vote. The bill is now in its final drafting stages, and Senators McCain and Wellstone and Congressmen Upton and Waxman soon (this coming week) will distribute copies of the bill with a so-called "Dear Colleague" letter urging their colleagues to be original co-sponsors. Plans for the bill's introduction --within a few weeks after the Dear Colleague is circulated--are now underway.