^^^^^^GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^
Ivan Suzman 47/10 [log in to unmask]
Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 20 deg F Snowstorm on the way
***********************************************************
Friday, November 14, 1997
Dear World Listmembers,
I am writing you while wearing my hat as the Maine Representative to
the New England Steering Committee of People With Parkinson's to Pass the
Udall Bill.
This morning, after a week of work with my local editors, we have
today a Major Newspaper EDITORIAL on the Udall Act, to enjoy and use. I
have typed it word-for-word, exactly as published, at the bottom of this
short post.
On Wednesday morning, one of my caregivers drove me into town, so I
could speak to the five editors of the Portland Press Herald, a Guy
Gannett Communications morning newspaper, at their daily 9:30 AM
editorial meeting . I brought along a copy of Governor King's Parkinson's
Awareness Month Proclamation from this past April, which I had helped to
write, a note card created by my local support group, and a media
bulletin from the Parkinson's Action Network. I talked about the
worldwide PD List, the three-year effort to pass the Udall Bill, and the
hopes for a Cure.
I then followed up with phone calls to two of the five editors, on
Wednesday evening and throughout the day yesterday. As a result of this
work, I am happy to be able to share now
the following EDITORIAL , from this morning's Portland (Maine) Press
Herald, from page 12A.:
Letters may be addressed to: The Editors, Portland Newspapers, P.O.
Box 1460, Portland, Maine 04104 USA. tel: (207) 791-6650 or (207)
791-6480.
I may be reached at 9 Range Street, Portland, Maine 04103, (207)
797-8488/ e-mail, [log in to unmask]
Respectfully submitted,
Ivan Mfowethu Suzman 47/10
* * * **
******************************************************************************
** * * * *
EDITORIAL Friday November 14, 1997
Portland Press Herald
Meg Weston, President Jeannine A. Guttman, Editor and Vice President
George Neavoll, Editorial Page Editor Curt Hazlett, Managing
Editor
FUNDING TRIPLED
Parkinson's Research Act Casts Light on the "Invisible Disease"
-More than 1 million Americans are the beneficiaries.
When Congress passed the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research
Act late last week and sent it to the president, more than 1 million
Americans affected by Parkinson's disease breathed easier. The bill,
part of the Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations measure,
moe than triples the amount of federal funding for Parkinson's research,
to $100 million.
"Scientists have made promising advances in understanding
Parkinson's, but this legislation will allow us to significantly enhance
the federal response to this disease," says Sen. Olympia Snowe, who, with
other members of the Maine Congressional delegation, cosponsored the
bill. It will "bring funding for Parkinson's research to a level
appropriate to this disorder."
The new law funds several fresh approaches to strengthening
the research effort, including the establishment of Morris K. Udall
Parkinson's Research Centers and Udall Awards for distinguished
Parkinson's research.
Both, like the legislation itself, honor the 30-year
congressman and 1976 presidential candidate from Arizona, now in a VA
long-term care facility, who was forced to retire by Parkinson's.
"Parkinson's has been the 'invisible disease,' " says Joan
Samuelson, the 47-year-old lawyer who heads the Parkinson's Action
Network. Now it "finally is where it belongs: in the national spotlight
with other devastating disorders, and on the federal priority list."
Suffering Americans and their loved ones from sea to sea are
grateful.
***************************************************************************************************************
(END OF EDITORIAL ) -- (END OF POST)
