[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 301 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 301

Recognizing and supporting the goals and implementation of the National 
 Alzheimer's Project Act and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's 
                                Disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 19, 2013

  Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Johnson of 
  South Dakota, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Markey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and supporting the goals and implementation of the National 
 Alzheimer's Project Act and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's 
                                Disease.

Whereas more than 5,000,000 individuals in the United States live with 
        Alzheimer's disease, and, based on current projections, as many as 
        16,000,000 individuals in the United States will have Alzheimer's 
        disease by 2050;
Whereas 1 in every 9 individuals in the United States over the age of 65 lives 
        with Alzheimer's disease;
Whereas another individual in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease 
        every 68 seconds, and, by 2050, another individual in the United States 
        will develop the disease every 33 seconds;
Whereas, in 2013, an estimated 450,000 people in the United States will die from 
        Alzheimer's disease, making it the sixth-leading cause of death in the 
        United States;
Whereas, between 2000 and 2010, deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease 
        increased by 68 percent;
Whereas Alzheimer's disease is devastating physically, emotionally, and 
        financially;
Whereas Alzheimer's disease creates an enormous financial strain on the health 
        care system, families, and Federal and State budgets;
Whereas, according to an independent study supported by the National Institutes 
        of Health, Alzheimer's disease is already the costliest disease in the 
        United States and is expected to become even more costly in the future;
Whereas, in 2013, the total direct cost of caring for individuals in the United 
        States with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to be $203,000,000,000, 
        including $107,000,000,000 in costs to Medicare and $35,000,000,000 to 
        Medicaid;
Whereas, if nothing is done to change the trajectory of the disease, the total 
        direct cost of caring for individuals in the United States with 
        Alzheimer's disease is expected to rise to $1,200,000,000,000 by 2050;
Whereas the average cost to Medicare for beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease 
        is 3 times higher than for those without the condition;
Whereas a Federal commitment to fighting Alzheimer's disease can lower costs and 
        improve health outcomes for people living with the disease today and in 
        the future;
Whereas, by making Alzheimer's disease a national priority, we can replicate the 
        successes that have been achieved in fighting other diseases;
Whereas leadership from the Federal Government has helped lower the number of 
        deaths from other major diseases and health problems such as HIV/AIDS, 
        cancer, heart disease, and stroke;
Whereas, in 2010, Congress unanimously passed the National Alzheimer's Project 
        Act;
Whereas the National Alzheimer's Project Act requires the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services to create and annually update a National Plan to 
        Address Alzheimer's Disease;
Whereas the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease establishes goals and 
        action steps to combat the disease in the areas of research, care, 
        support, and public awareness; and
Whereas the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease has resulted in some 
        notable accomplishments, including the creation of a blueprint for 
        Alzheimer's research by the National Institutes of Health: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that additional focus, research, and 
        resources are needed to overcome Alzheimer's disease;
            (2) acknowledges the impact that Alzheimer's disease has on 
        individuals with the disease, their caregivers and loved ones, 
        and the United States as a whole; and
            (3) supports the goals and implementation of the National 
        Alzheimer's Project Act and the National Plan to Address 
        Alzheimer's Disease.
                                 <all>