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Dear list, In tidying up my papers and files today, I came across a small pile of neglected Udall petitions. I had always wanted to amend the message but never got around to it. Today was different. I offer the following nity grity of our current Mo case (feel free to use these words as you wish): 1. In 1997, Congress enacted into law the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Act, which authorized the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to spend $ 100 million a year on Parkinson's focused research. Expert researchers tell us that this amount would permit them to find a cure within 5-10 years. To date, however, this funding has not been allocated and the NIH continues to pursue an underfunded and unfocused Parkinson's research program. 2. Curing Parkinson's Disease would stop the ongoing expense of 25 billion dollars a year (68.5 million dollars a day) we now accept. 3. Doctors diagnose sixty thousand Americans a year (an individual every nine minutes) with Parkinson's. More than one million are now living with this destructive disease. 4. In recognition of these facts, we, the undersigned, call on the Members of the United States Congress to fulfill their 1997 commitment. Provide at least $ 100 million for Parkinson's-focused research in fiscal year 2000.