[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E416-E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE RONALD REAGAN ALZHEIMER'S BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chairman of the 
Bipartisan Alzheimer's Disease Congressional Task Force, I rise today 
to introduce multi-faceted legislation to boost the federal commitment 
to Alzheimer's research and help patients and family members currently 
struggling with the disease.
  This wide-ranging legislation attacks the problem of Alzheimer's 
disease on every front, and includes proposals to double our nation's 
biomedical research on Alzheimer's, improve clinical practice and 
training for promising gerontologists, enhance patient education, 
expand innovative state Alzheimer's caregiver support programs, and 
increase training for law enforcement officials who interact with 
dementia-afflicted patients.
  As some of my colleagues know, I was first elected to Congress in 
1980, when President Ronald Reagan was elected to his first term as 
President. The legislation is named for our former President who died 
last year after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
  I believe that it is fitting and appropriate that this important 
legislation be dedicated to the most famous Alzheimer's patient and one 
of our greatest Presidents. Throughout his remarkable life, President 
Reagan endured many hardships including an assassination attempt and a 
bout with cancer. His terminal struggle with Alzheimer's disease has 
greatly increased awareness of the disease, and the importance of 
developing breakthrough therapies to help patients and families 
affected by it.
  I am joined in introducing the legislation today by Rep. Ed Markey 
(D-MA), who serves as my Co-Chairman of the Alzheimer's Disease 
Congressional Task Force that the two of us founded in June 1999. The 
Task Force includes approximately 190 members. Also joining the effort 
is physician and Congressman Mike Burgess (R-TX), Chairman of the 
Republican House Policy Committee's Subcommittee on Health, and who 
serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where the legislation will 
be referred. In the Senate, a companion measure was introduced today by 
Senator Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
  The Alzheimer's Association, which is the largest worldwide research, 
advocacy, and research support organization devoted to helping 
Alzheimer's patients, has strongly endorsed the ``Ronald Reagan 
Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act'' and worked closely with both House and 
Senate sponsors when drafting it.
  The centerpiece of the bill seeks to double funding for ethical 
biomedical research on Alzheimer's disease at the National Institutes 
of Health (NIH) from $700 million to $1.4 billion. We believe that 
funding is needed to meet the demand of numerous unfunded studies that 
could lead to a breakthrough.
  Recent increases in Congressional funding for Alzheimer's research 
has put us at the cusp of some amazing breakthroughs. The level of 
scientific interest in dementia research

[[Page E417]]

has grown significantly as understanding of the disease process 
improves. But the main NIH institute doing the research has reported 
that only 15 percent of scientifically merit-worthy grant applications 
are being funded. This means that 85 percent of qualified grant 
proposals--studies that could hold the key to delaying the symptoms or 
curing the disease--are not being systematically explored. A few years 
ago, we were funding 25 percent of the worthwhile grants. This is a 
completely unacceptable state of affairs, and our legislation seeks to 
remedy this problem.
  I want to emphasize to my colleagues that an up-front investment in 
research will not only help improve the quality of life for millions of 
Americans, but will also help save the federal government hundreds of 
billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid spending over the next 
half-century.
  In addition to doubling our investment in Alzheimer's research at the 
NIH, the Smith-Markey-Burgess legislation also supports a number of 
other important Alzheimer's-related initiatives. These include:
  Establishing an Alzheimer's disease prevention initiative.
  Expanding and improving clinical research on Alzheimer's disease.
  Systematic research on Alzheimer's disease care.
  National summit on Alzheimer's disease.
  Education and assistance for caregivers and their families.
  Grants to expand needed respite care programs.
  A public education campaign.
  Improving Project Safe Return to help locate Alzheimer's patients who 
become disoriented and wander from their home.
  In conclusion, the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act offers 
a comprehensive approach for treating current Alzheimer's patients and 
researching potential cures to reduce the number of those who will 
struggle with this disease in the future. We will be working overtime 
to secure passage of this critical legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
join with me in cosponsoring it.

                          ____________________