[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               H. RES. 466--ALZHEIMER'S SEMI-POSTAL STAMP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bipartisan 
resolution urging the United States Postal Service to act on a pending 
petition for an Alzheimer's Semi-Postal Stamp. I am proud to have 
partnered with my colleagues, Representatives Ed Markey, Chris Smith, 
and John Boozman in introducing this legislation that encourages a 
long-overdue opportunity for the public to make an investment in the 
research that could find a cure to Alzheimer's disease.
  Nancy Reagan described the slow decline of her husband, President 
Reagan, to Alzheimer's disease as ``the long goodbye.'' Far too many 
Americans are enduring that same long goodbye today. More than 4 
million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a number that is expected 
to triple within the next 50 years. Nineteen million Americans are 
caring for someone with Alzheimer's. That is why I have fought so hard 
to increase federal funding for Alzheimer's disease research.
  Scientists around the world, including some of our best minds at the 
National Institutes of Health, believe we are on the verge of 
breakthroughs in Alzheimer's detection, diagnosis, and prevention. With 
an annual cost of more than $100 billion to care for people with 
Alzheimer's, and an immeasurable amount of heartache, America must 
invest in hastening the day when Alzheimer's disease is no longer--we 
cannot afford not to.
  That is why we are encouraging the Postal Service to act now on an 
Alzheimer's stamp. Semi-postal stamps are authorized by Congress as a 
tool for the Postal Service to raise funds and awareness of worthy 
causes. Tens of thousands of Americans, from across the country, have 
signed a petition of support for this stamp, yet its issue is still 
pending with the Postal Service after four years. There is no more 
worthy cause today than a fight against Alzheimer's disease, and time 
is of the essence. By allowing the public to directly contribute to 
research funds through a postal stamp, we could be one step closer to a 
treatment, or even a cure.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me to encourage the Postal 
Service to allow Americans to invest in the fight against Alzheimer's 
disease through a semi-postal stamp.

                          ____________________