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Advocacy Works! Parkinson’s disease has taken another step toward securing the research funding that will deliver the cure - and advocates from across the nation played a crucial part. The report accompanying fiscal year 2000 Labor-Health & Human Services-Education (Labor/HHS)Appropriation bill passed by the Senate Thursday evening contains the strongest language yet approved for Parkinson’s research. Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) joined in a colloquy (an official conversation included in the bill report) verifying that the overall budget increase for NIH is sufficient to fund $75 million in additional Parkinson’s research. (Text of the colloquy below.) While it doesn’t carry the force of law, the colloquy states Congressional intent and provides clear direction to the NIH. The final version of the colloquy is the result of intense negotiations, and would not be as strong as it is were it not for the publicity and awareness raised about Parkinson’s and the research promise. Even more important was the flood of calls, faxes and emails which poured into the office of Senator Arlen Specter, the Chairman of the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. All of that positive pressure convinced Senator Specter to agree to a much stronger version of the colloquy - more supportive of Parkinson’s - than he originally offered. The tremendous energy and determination of the Parkinson’s advocacy community was instrumental in achieving a big legislative victory - one sure to translate into greater research funding in the fiscal year 2000 budget. Three cheers to all of you for your efforts!! Michael Claeys Policy Coordinator Parkinson’s Action Network (800) 850-4726 **************************************************************************** ********* THE COLLOQUY: **************************************************************************** ********* PARKINSON'S RESEARCH Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I want to thank the Chairman for his strong leadership and support for the medical research in our nation. I strongly support his efforts to double funding for the National Institutes of Health, and I am heartened by the increases in this bill. I also want to thank him for his leadership in increasing funding for Parkinson's research and holding the September 28, 1999, hearing on the promise of Parkinson's research and the need for increased funding. Michael J. Fox put it best when he said that `this is a winnable war' as long as the funding is there to match the scientific promise. Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, that's right. Dr. Fischbach testified that he sincerely believes that we are close to solving Parkinson's . The scientific research community believes that it is realistic to think that we will conquer Parkinson's in 5 to 10 years. Dr. William Langston, President of the Parkinson's Institute told the Subcommittee at the hearing that we have an historic opportunity with Parkinson's because the research is at a point where a focused, adequately funded effort will produce a cure. He also testified that once we understand and unravel Parkinson's , we will have answers to many other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease . Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, the Parkinson's hearing was great news for all those who suffer from this disease . The advocacy community was well-represented by actor Michael J. Fox, Joan Samuelson--President of the Parkinson's Action Network, and Jim Cordy--a Parkinson's advocate from Pennsylvania. Their personal stories underscore the need for Congress to ensure that there is increased funding for Parkinson's research. Parkinson's is the most curable neurological disorder and the one most likely to produce a breakthrough. Congress passed the Morris K. Udall Research Act, making clear that Parkinson's should receive the funding it needs to eradicate this truly dreadful disease . Now it is time to fulfill that promise. Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I agree. At the hearing, we were asked to increase funding for Parkinson's research $75 million over current funding levels by increasing funding levels at two institutes, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), at $50 million and $25 million respectively. The research community thinks that this will provide enough funding to quicken seriously the pace of research on Parkinson's --a down payment, if you will--on a fully funded Parkinson's research agenda that scientific experts in the community conservatively estimate to be over $200 million. I believe NIH should be able to do this from the funds provided in our bill. Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, as I said at the hearing, I think the scientific community can find a cure in even less time, as few as 2 to 4 years, if they have the resources. With the overall $2 billion increase in NIH funding provided in this bill, those institutes will have sufficient funds to provide the increases to Parkinson's focused research. Mr. HARKIN. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee I want to express my strong support for substantially increasing NIH support for Parkinson's research. We have a tremendous opportunity for real break through in the fight against this horrible disease and we cannot pass that up.