[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAUL D. WELLSTONE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH, 
                    AND EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 5265, the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy 
Community Assistance, Research and Education (MD-CARE) Amendments Act 
of 2008. This legislation is named in tribute to Minnesota Senator Paul 
Wellstone whose work on behalf of the vulnerable was well-known and 
well-respected.
  Muscular dystrophy is a degenerative genetic disease which affects 
over 300,000 individuals in the United States. The original MD-Care Act 
authorization introduced by the late Senator Wellstone was signed into 
law in December 2001. This bill established six centers of excellence, 
created a Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee (MDCC) to support 
research and education on muscular dystrophy, and expanded education 
programs for muscular dystrophy at the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).
  H.R. 5265 continues the momentum from the original legislation. This 
legislation officially names the Centers of Excellence the Paul D. 
Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers to honor 
Senator Wellstone's work. In addition, this bill ensures that data 
collection at the CDC is updated regularly, and that information is 
distributed to targeted audiences.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this important bill.

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