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Michael, I was unable to catch your appearance in front of the Senate along with Joan S., Jim C. and others but heard all about it. I attended the Unity Walk in NYC, however, and appreciated your appearance. I saw Jim Cordy there, too, and he so nicely approached my mother (who is so disabled from atypical Parkinson's) to extend a message of hope. Thank you for your efforts. I don't think anyone is obliged to make his or her disease public, but it is so good of you to take advantage of your position to make public the urgency for research dollars to cure PD. I've always enjoyed your work. I now also respect you enormously as a person. Thank you. Debbie White [log in to unmask] > -----Original Message----- > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Michael J Fox > Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 1:05 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: PARKINSON'S RESEARCH FUNDING IN JEOPARDY! > > > Dear Friends, > > As many of you know, on September 28th I had the honor of > testifying before > the Senate Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee about the urgent need for > more funding for > Parkinson's research. > > The hearing has set in motion a real chance for a major increase > in research > funding, and your help is needed NOW to make this opportunity a > reality. I > was > very encouraged to hear the tremendous promise for a Parkinson's > cure in the > next 5 to 10 years - AS LONG AS THERE IS ADEQUATE FUNDING. I was > also very > moved by the > support of so many of you who came from across the country to fill the > hearing room and make our voices heard. > > My message at the hearing was simple. This is a winnable war - as long as > the funding matches the scientific potential. Along with Joan Samuelson, > Jim Cordy and > Dr. J. William Langston, we asked the subcommittee to provide $75 million > MORE > for Parkinson's focused research. > > Comments of Senator Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Subcommittee, gave us > great hope when he stated: "This issue is in the hand of the Congress..." > and that "...there is no reason that every valid research > application should > not be granted -- every one ought to be granted." > > The Senate is now considering the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill on the > Senate floor, but there is no mention yet of the additional $75 > million for > Parkinson's focused research. > > WE NEED YOU TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS: TELL THEM WE NEED AN > ADDITIONAL > $75 MILLION FOR PARKINSON'S FOCUSED RESEARCH. With this funding, the > research > community believes that we could find a cure to this disease in > less than 10 years. > > Time is short: please call and e-mail NOW! > > Call Senator Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Labor HHS Senate > Appropriations > Subcommittee at (202) > 224-4254, or e-mail: [log in to unmask] > > > You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and > ask for each > of your two Senators - any of whom can help secure the additional funding. > > Send your message today!!! > > --Michael J. Fox >