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The logic is straight forward: If a cure for Parkinson's Disease is found via spending $100,000,000 per year for the next few years as authorized by the Morris Udall Act, the savings of billions of dollars each year thereafter will be a benefit. In addition, the millions who do not experience the losses of physical capability and the depression and helplessness of Parkinsonism will contribute more years of productuve activity rather than have to be taken care of for years. Something is amiss when we fund the Pentagon $268 Billion this year but provide the National Institutes of Health, America's federal research center, less than $14 Billion. A formidable enemy of the people comprising our nation is disease. The situation is going to worsen as the "baby boomers" age. According to Abraham Lieberman, M.D., Medical Director of the National Parkinson Foundation and Executive Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Institute in Phoenix, AZ, at least ten million people in the US over age 60 are likely to develop Parkinson's if they live long enough. A Duke University Study found that each Parkinson's Disease patient costs $25,000 a year in societal and family costs in 1994 dollars. One million times $25,000 equals $25 Billion current cost for Parkinson's Disease. Yes, I have a vested interest in seeing an all out attack on Parkinson's Disease. I am 'living' with this robber of mobility, I started taking medication in 1984 when I was diagnosed.(modify this to fit your situation) $100 Million a year to save $25 Billion a year - and possibly $250 Billion a year in the not too distant future is a bargain. The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives describes Parkinson's as "one of the brightest spots in brain research." It is thought that research into Parkinson's may well hold the key to other neurodegenerative diseases. Please help! Support fully funding the Morris K. Udall Act for Parkinson's Research and Education to a level of $100 Million a year. Do your best to double the NIH budget with emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases research. Sincerely, (add your name and address here) PS: CBO 3/98 budget information: year 1998 2003 2008 Defense 269 306 357 Domestic 269 317 367 Social Security 376 471 614 Medicare 218 306 448 (where the values are billions of dollars) shows domestic spending is projected to increase more than defense, but the Medicare more than doubles! The increase of $230-billion in Medicare and $238-billion in Social Security dwarf the $98-billion increase in domestic spending. The $0.1-billion authorized for PD should be appropriated - because it is expected to save 250 to 2,500 times that amount each year.