[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 434 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 434

Supporting the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's 
disease by the year 2025, as articulated in the draft National Plan to 
  Address Alzheimer's Disease from the Department of Health and Human 
                               Services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               April 24 (legislative day, April 23), 2012

 Mr. Warner (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
  Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Conrad) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's 
disease by the year 2025, as articulated in the draft National Plan to 
  Address Alzheimer's Disease from the Department of Health and Human 
                               Services.

Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United 
        States;
Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the only disease among the 10 leading causes of 
        death in the United States that lacks a means of prevention or a cure, 
        and the progression of which cannot be slowed;
Whereas more than 5,000,000 people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's 
        disease;
Whereas, in 2011, 15,200,000 family members and friends provided 17,400,000,000 
        hours of unpaid care valued at $210,500,000,000 to patients with 
        Alzheimer's disease and other dementias;
Whereas, by the year 2050, as many as 15,000,000 people in the United States 
        will have Alzheimer's disease if scientists do not make progress in the 
        prevention or treatment of the disease;
Whereas the Federal Government spent an estimated $140,000,000,000 under the 
        Medicare and Medicaid programs to care for patients with Alzheimer's 
        disease in 2011;
Whereas spending relating to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease under the 
        Medicare and Medicaid programs is projected to be more than 
        $850,000,000,000 per year, in 2012 dollars, by the year 2050;
Whereas scientists working to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease have already 
        identified--

    (1) more than 100 genes linked to Alzheimer's disease;

    (2) biomarkers to identify the people who are at risk for Alzheimer's 
disease; and

    (3) other promising leads in gene, protein, and drug therapies to 
benefit people who have Alzheimer's disease or are at risk for developing 
the disease;

Whereas an emphasis on early diagnosis, workforce training, education, and 
        support for patients and the families of patients, as well as other 
        programs and initiatives spearheaded by State and local governments, 
        advocacy organizations, doctors, hospitals, and long-term care 
        facilities, are already making a difference in reducing the burden of 
        Alzheimer's disease for patients, families, and communities;
Whereas the National Alzheimer's Project Act (Public Law 111-375; 124 Stat. 
        4100), which Congress passed unanimously on December 15, 2010 and 
        President Barack Obama signed into law on January 4, 2011, required the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services to create the first National Plan 
        to Address Alzheimer's Disease, and established the Advisory Council on 
        Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services to assist the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services in this task;
Whereas, shortly after the National Alzheimer's Project Act was enacted, the 
        Department of Health and Human Services created the Interagency Group on 
        Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias to inform the National Plan to 
        Address Alzheimer's Disease;
Whereas, in formulating the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, 
        the Department of Health and Human Services, the Interagency Group on 
        Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, and the Advisory Council on 
        Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services focused on 3 main topics, long-
        term services and support, clinical care, and research; and
Whereas the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease includes--

    (1) the bold and transformative goal of preventing and treating 
Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025; and

    (2) specific performance metrics to optimize the quality and efficiency 
of care, expand support for patients and families, enhance public awareness 
and engagement, track progress, and drive improvement: Now, therefore, be 
it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the groundbreaking national goal of preventing 
        and treating Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025 and the other 
        goals of the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer's 
        Disease;
            (2) finds that basic science, medical research, and therapy 
        development, through enhanced research programs and expanded 
        public-private partnerships, are necessary for--
                    (A) reaching the goal of preventing and treating 
                Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025; and
                    (B) identifying a definitive cure for Alzheimer's 
                disease;
            (3) calls for further public awareness and understanding of 
        Alzheimer's disease;
            (4) supports increased assistance for people with 
        Alzheimer's disease and the caregivers and families of those 
        people; and
            (5) encourages early diagnosis and access to high-quality 
        care for people with Alzheimer's disease.
                                 <all>