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'97 SPONSORS WELL PREPARED TO LEAD EFFORT The Udall bill's newest leader Senator John McCain of Arizona, knows Parkinson's and the toll it can take. McCain is a long-time friend of Mo Udall, and visits him regularly at the Veterans long-term care facility in Washington D.C. Senator McCain also has first hand experience with physical hardship. While serving as a Naval aviator during the Vietnam War, he was captured, tortured by the North Vietnamese and help as a prisoner of war for five and a half years. After returning home, he entered elective office, serving two terms in the House of Representatives (1982-1986) before being elected to the Senate in 1986. McCain speaks fondly of his days as a freshman in Congress when Udall, a liberal Democrat and Chairman of the House Interior Committee, guided McCain, a young "Reagan Republican" and the committees junior Member. In the 105th Congress, McCain is Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and sits on the Armed Services and Indian Affairs Committees. Continuing "Parkinson's Champion" Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, the lead Senate Democrat sponsor in the Senate, draws on the experiences of his parents, both of whom suffered with Parkinson's. Wellstone has been one of the most vocal and inspirational advocates for the Parkinson's community. First elected to the Senate in 1990 and re-elected in November, Senator Wellstone serves on the Senate Labor & Human Resources Committee. The House sponsors are long-time Parkinson's champions. Republican Fred Upton of Kalamazoo, Michigan begins his sixth term in congress, where he serves on the House Commerce Committee. Congressman Upton's uncle suffered with Parkinson's. Congressman Henry Waxman of Los Angeles, California joins Upton as lead Democratic sponsor. A consistent and powerful spokesman for medical research, Representative Waxman lead the fight in the House to overturn the fetal tissue research ban imposed by Presidents Reagan and Bush. Serving his twelfth term in the House, he is the second ranking Democrat on the House Commerce Committee. ----------------------------------------------- Parkinson's Action Network 800-850-4726 Headquarters: 818 College Ave., Suite C Santa Rosa, CA 95404 phone 707-544-1994 fax 707-544-2363 email [log in to unmask] Washington, D.C. office: 601 13th Street, NW., Suite 310 Washington, DC 20005 phone 202-628-2079 fax 202-628-2077 Brad Udall, Chair Joan I. Samuelson, President John L. Dodge, Treasurer Bonnie K. Mioduchoski, Administrator Michael Claeys, Community Coordinator The Action Reporter is a free publication of the Parkinson's Action Network, a non-profit charitable foundation for a cure for Parkinson's. Use of this material in other publication is welcomed. We ask that the Network be identified as the source of the material, and notified how, when and where the material is used. Simply call 800-850-4726