[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 22 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E258]]
 HONORING ROMAN, DON AND GLORIA REED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FUND SPINAL 
                          CORD INJURY RESEARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to 
share with my colleagues the achievements of a remarkable family in my 
district.
  Roman Reed was a star college football player until he was paralyzed 
by a game injury that broke his neck. Such an injury would devastate 
most families, but not the Reeds. Roman's father, Don, began tirelessly 
searching for cures for his son's injuries. Don learned that, while 
research is moving closer and closer to a cure, insufficient funding is 
slowing our chances for success.
  Roman's parents, Don and Gloria Reed, have become tireless advocates 
for spinal cord research. They gathered other concerned citizens and 
founded ``Californians for a Cure,'' a campaign to raise funds for 
spinal cord injury research. Car accidents are the leading cause of 
spinal cord injury. Recognizing that, they sought state legislation to 
dedicate a portion of the state revenues collected from speeding 
tickets to spinal cord research.
  The Reed's State Assemblyman, John Dutra, took up their cause for 
spinal cord research in the State Legislature. In September 2000, after 
three years of tremendous work, Governor Gray Davis signed the Roman 
Reed bill into law. For five years, this law will provide $1 million 
annually for spinal cord research in California.
  Last Friday, March 1, the Roman Reed Laboratory for Spinal Cord 
Injury Research was dedicated at the University of California, Irvine. 
This laboratory was created through some of the funds made possible by 
the Roman Reed Bill. The Roman Reed Laboratory has a simple, important 
vision: to create a setting where scientists can rapidly translate 
ideas into research. Furthermore, the laboratory hopes to make it 
possible for any scientist with a compelling idea to immediately 
undertake research and experiments. The new core laboratory will help 
fast-track spinal cord injury research and speed up our chances of 
finding successful treatments to these devastating injuries.
  Today, Roman has regained the use of his arms and is a proud father 
himself. His parents still tirelessly push for greater strides in 
spinal cord injury research. Most recently, I've heard from Don Reed 
regarding his fight to oppose new federal limitations on stem cell 
research. Stem cells may well be one of the answers to fighting 
paralysis. Don is taking his fight from California to Washington to 
make sure that roadblocks are not put in the way of vitally needed 
research.
  I commend the entire Reed family for their dedication to finding a 
cure for spinal cord injuries--not only for their son--but for everyone 
who suffers from these devastating injuries. I am honored to know the 
Reeds, am proud to represent them in the U.S. Congress, and I am 
pleased to help them in this important cause.

                          ____________________