[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1788-E1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, Rep. 
Michael Burgess, on this bipartisan legislation and I want to thank him 
for his leadership on this important issue. I also want to thank 
Chairman Waxman, Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Barton, and Ranking 
Member Shimkus for their support.
  Our staffs have worked long and hard in a bipartisan manner to get to 
this point today. I particularly want to recognize Ray Thorn on my 
staff, Anne Morris on the Committee staff, and JP Paluskeiwisc on Rep. 
Burgess' staff for their work on this legislation.
  While thousands of Americans are affected by Multiple Sclerosis, 
Parkinson's, or other neurological diseases, very little accurate 
information exists to assist those who research, treat, and provide 
care to those suffering from these diseases. Accurate incidence and 
prevalence information is critical and needed to gain a better 
understanding of these diseases. This lack of information inhibits 
research, treatments, programs, and services.
  In 2000, the Pew Environmental Health Commission, recommended that 
neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis, be 
tracked by a national data system. Today, we take an important step 
implementing that recommendation by establishing a national 
neurological diseases surveillance system at CDC.
  Quite simply, the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System 
Act will help improve and enhance the infrastructure in tracking the 
incidence and prevalence on neurological diseases, including Multiple 
Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The information collected through 
this surveillance system will provide a foundation for evaluating and 
understanding many factors such as geographic clusters of diagnosis, 
variances in the gender ratio, disease burden, and changes in health 
care practices.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents an opportunity to move 
neurological disease research in a meaningful way that aims to improve 
the lives of all Americans suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, 
Parkinson's, or other neurological diseases.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

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