Parkinson's Action Network - Action Reporter - Advocacy Report for the
Parkinson's Community, April, 1997 Vol. VIII, No. 1
"Do It For Mo!"
Senator McCain Leads '97 Drive to Pass Udall Bill
The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act (S.535) (HR. 1260)- a bill
bearing the hopes of million
Americans with Parkinson's Disease - was re-introduced into Congress April
9th, and Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona has announced he is the
new lead Senate sponsor.
Thirty-Six Senators and 112 Representatives are listed as "Original
Co-sponsors" at the time of introduction.
McCain, the former Vietnam War prisoner of war, takes the place of
retiring Senator Mark Hatfield, and joins Minnesota Democratic Sen. Paul
Wellstone to serve as the bill's bipartisan leaders in the Senate. They are
joined by continuing House sponsors Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA)
to complete the bipartisan leadership team.
As the Udall bill's original author, Hatfield led the bill's unanimous
Senate passage last September. However, because the bill failed to reach
the House floor, the effort must begin again.
Congressmen Upton and Waxman continue an effort which produced a hugh
jump in House support for Parkinson's research, reaching 241 cosponsors by
the term's end. The challenge now is to develop more support, and most
importantly, push the bill from the House Commerce Committee to the floor for
a vote.
With the bill's introduction, Senators McCain and Wellstone and
Congressmen Upton and Waxman are writing their colleagues and urging them to
be "Original Co-sponsors." The Network has written to all 535 Members as
well.
"Our goal is to have at least every previous cosponsor signed on as
'originals'" said Michael Claeys, PAN Community Outreach Coordinator. "a
large number of original co-sponsors shows the legislation's popularity and
political strength." Fifty-four returning Senators and 208 returning House
Members co-sponsored last year.
"Since these returning Members are most likely to sign up if they hear
from their constituents," continued Claeys, "the Parkinson's community should
contact their Senators and Representatives immediately and urge them to
cosponsor."
The numbers for the new bill are S.535 (Senate) and HR.1260 (House).
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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
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