[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 82 (Monday, June 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZATION OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH EDUCATION AND CLINICAL 
                                CENTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 20, 2005

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, Parkinson's disease is a serious health 
problem in the United States. Up to 1.5 million Americans have the 
disease and approximately 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year 
nationwide. By 2010, an estimated 39,000 veterans who are age 85 and 
older will have this progressive neurological disorder. Treatments 
exist for Parkinson's, but medical research continues to improve 
treatments and to find a cure.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took an important step in 
2001 towards eradicating this disease by establishing Parkinson's 
Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs). In addition 
to providing an unparalleled environment for researchers to see their 
results rapidly and directly applied to better patient care and shared 
with the medical and scientific community, these centers of excellence 
are the backbone that now enables the VA to provide excellent care to 
veterans with Parkinson's disease and to conduct research.
  Through the PADRECCs and the National VA Parkinson's Disease 
Consortium--a network of nationally dispersed VA clinicians with 
expertise and/or interest in the fields of Parkinson's disease and 
related movement disorders--the VA is able to treat 42,000 veterans 
with Parkinson's disease.
  Together the PADRECCs and the Consortium serve as a channel for 
collaboration and development in the areas of clinical care, scientific 
research and educational outreach. The collaborative efforts of the 
PADRECCs and Consortium provide veterans nationwide with integrated, 
expert medical care and access to the full spectrum of state-of-the-art 
diagnostic and therapeutic services to meet and exceed the standard of 
care.
  In just a brief time since their inception, the six PADRECCs, which 
are based at the VA medical centers in Houston, West Los Angeles, 
Philadelphia, Portland-Seattle, Richmond and San Francisco, have made 
enormous contribution to Parkinson's disease care and research and 
training of health care professionals. The PADRECCs, including the VA 
hospitals in Albuquerque, has Vegas, Lorna Linda and Long Beach, 
Calif., Phoenix, San Diego and Tucson, which are affiliated with the 
Southwestern PADREEC located at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center 
put VA at the forefront of the landmark clinical study to assess the 
effectiveness of surgical implantation of deep brain stimulators in 
reducing the symptoms of the disease.

  The efforts of the VA PADRECCs are the model of innovation in the 
delivery of healthcare and research for chronic disease in the veteran 
population. The efforts of the PADRECCs deserve continued support.
  Today, I am proud to introduce H.R. 2959 along with Mr. Baker of 
Louisiana, Mr. Boehlert of New York, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Maloney 
of New York, Mr. Pickering of Mississippi, Ms. Hooley of Oregon, Mr. 
King of New York, and Mr. Blumenauer of Oregon, which would permanently 
authorize these six PADRECCs. The Disabled American Veterans and 
Parkinson's Action Network support permanently authorizing the 
PADRECCs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bi-partisan bill which will 
benefit tens of thousands of veterans and provide additional hope for 
all Americans who have Parkinson's disease.


                                   Disabled American Veterans,

                                    Washington, DC, June 17, 2005.
     Hon. Lane Evans,
     Ranking Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Cannon 
         House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Evans: The Disabled American Veterans 
     supports your draft bill that would authorize the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish six Parkinson's Disease 
     Research, Education and Clinical Centers. Currently, VA 
     medical centers treat over 40,000 Parkinson's disease 
     patients every year.
       These centers would conduct research covering basic 
     biomedicine, rehabilitation, health services delivery, and 
     clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of treatments 
     such as surgical implantation of deep brain stimulators in 
     reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, 
     the establishment of a consortium would allow VA to design a 
     national network of VA clinicians with expertise and interest 
     in the fields of Parkinson's disease and related movement 
     disorders. The collaboration and development in the areas of 
     clinical care, scientific research, and educational outreach 
     would ensure specialized care will be embedded throughout the 
     continuum of care provided by the VA health care system.
       Thank you for your efforts to improve VA's specialized 
     medical programs for service connected disabled veterans, and 
     thank you for your continued support of disabled veterans
           Sincerely,
                                               Joseph A. Violante,
                                    National Legislative Director.


                                   Parkinson's Action Network,

                                    Washington, DC, June 16, 2005.
     House of Representatives, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Cannon 
         House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Members of the Committee: On behalf of the Parkinson's 
     Action Network (PAN), I would like to express support for 
     legislation that will be introduced by Rep. Lane Evans 
     shortly that provides for the establishment of the 
     Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers 
     (PADRECCs) in the Veterans Health Administration of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the 
     Parkinson's community--more than one million Americans and 
     their families. Through education and interaction with the 
     Parkinson's community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion 
     leaders, and the public, PAN leads the fight to ease the 
     burden and find a cure. PAN increases awareness about 
     Parkinson's disease and seeks federal support for Parkinson's 
     research.
       More than one million Americans have Parkinson's disease, 
     with approximately 60,000 more diagnosed each year. As the 
     disease progresses, patients are ultimately robbed of their 
     ability to speak, walk, and perform many of the activities of 
     daily life such as rising from a chair or rolling over in 
     bed.
       PADRECCs, as suggested by their name, are charged with 
     conducting clinical and basic science research, administering 
     national outreach and education programs, and providing 
     state-of-the-art clinical care. These services, provided by 
     the existing six PADRECCs, are vital not only to veterans, 
     but to the entire community.
       We firmly believe that patients, family members, and the 
     general public should continue to have access to the 
     invaluable services provided by the Parkinson's Disease 
     Research, Education, and Clinical Centers. On this basis, PAN 
     respectfully requests your support of this important 
     legislation.
       If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or 
     Mary Richards, PAN Director of Government Relations at (202) 
     638-4101.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Amy L. Comstock,
     Executive Director.

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