[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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THE MORRIS K. UDALL PARKINSON'S RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE ACT 
                                OF 1994

 Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, I rise today to add my name to the 
list of cosponsors of legislation to establish the Morris K. Udall 
Parkinson's Research, Education, and Assistance Act. Each year this 
disease costs society an estimated $6 billion. The victims know no age 
limits or boundaries and indeed a very large percentage of Parkinson's 
patients are under the age of 60. The patients are the famous and the 
unknown, but the have in common a disease that progressively increases 
its control of the body. This legislation will help focus the limited 
resources we have in a way that will hopefully offer a breakthrough. 
Included in this legislation is a coordination council to direct and 
coordinate research, a national conference to build a consensus on 
strategy, the creation of an agenda, and the establishment of 10 
research centers.
  Mr. President, it is fitting that this legislation has been given a 
human face by naming it after former Congressman Morris Udall. As a 
colleague of his in the House of Representatives, I know that Morris 
Udall represented what is best in this institution and what is best in 
American political life. No one could over a more serious and 
intelligent approach on issues. At the same time, he always maintained 
his wit and sense of humor in a way that would guarantee that we did 
not lose sight of who we were and what we were trying to accomplish.
  Mo Udall's career was highlighted in 1976 when he ran for President. 
Although he worked tirelessly on the campaign trail and did not receive 
the party nomination. Mo managed to keep this sense of humor. Typical 
of his self-deprecating humor, he once began a speech by recounting to 
the audience a story about his campaigning in a local barbershop in 
Keene, NH. As he described, ``I walked up to the first man sitting in 
the barber chair and said `Hi, I'm Mo Udall, and I'm running for 
President.' And he said to me, `Yeah, I know. We were just laughing 
about it.'' Despite the humor, Mo Udall's Presidential campaign, like 
his career, was no joke. He offered serious leadership and integrity at 
a time when all faith in Government had been shaken. His service in the 
House for 30 years was tragically cut short by Parkinson's disease, and 
his absence for the past 4 years has been deeply felt by many of us 
here on Capitol Hill.
  Mr. President, it is time we cut this disease short so that the 
tragedy that is Parkinson's will not continue to afflict more and more 
victims, along with their family and friends. If we can make headway 
through the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research, Education, and 
Assistance Act, then we will have given due tribute to our dear friend 
and colleague.

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