[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 434--SUPPORTING THE GOAL OF PREVENTING AND 
     EFFECTIVELY TREATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BY THE YEAR 2025, AS 
 ARTICULATED IN THE DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 
            FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  Mr. WARNER (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Conrad) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 434

       Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of 
     death in the United States;
       Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the only disease among the 
     10 leading causes of death in the United States that lacks a 
     means of prevention or a cure, and the progression of which 
     cannot be slowed;
       Whereas more than 5,000,000 people in the United States 
     suffer from Alzheimer's disease;
       Whereas, in 2011, 15,200,000 family members and friends 
     provided 17,400,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at 
     $210,500,000,000 to patients with Alzheimer's disease and 
     other dementias;
       Whereas, by the year 2050, as many as 15,000,000 people in 
     the United States will have Alzheimer's disease if scientists 
     do not make progress in the prevention or treatment of the 
     disease;
       Whereas the Federal Government spent an estimated 
     $140,000,000,000 under the Medicare and Medicaid programs to 
     care for patients with Alzheimer's disease in 2011;
       Whereas spending relating to the treatment of Alzheimer's 
     disease under the Medicare and Medicaid programs is projected 
     to be more than $850,000,000,000 per year, in 2012 dollars, 
     by the year 2050;
       Whereas scientists working to find a cure for Alzheimer's 
     disease have already identified--
       (1) more than 100 genes linked to Alzheimer's disease;
       (2) biomarkers to identify the people who are at risk for 
     Alzheimer's disease; and
       (3) other promising leads in gene, protein, and drug 
     therapies to benefit people who have Alzheimer's disease or 
     are at risk for developing the disease;
       Whereas an emphasis on early diagnosis, workforce training, 
     education, and support for patients and the families of 
     patients, as well as other programs and initiatives 
     spearheaded by State and local governments, advocacy 
     organizations, doctors, hospitals, and long-term care 
     facilities, are already making a difference in reducing the 
     burden of Alzheimer's disease for patients, families, and 
     communities;
       Whereas the National Alzheimer's Project Act (Public Law 
     111 375; 124 Stat. 4100), which Congress passed unanimously 
     on December 15, 2010 and President Barack Obama signed into 
     law on January 4, 2011, required the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services to create the first National Plan to Address 
     Alzheimer's Disease, and established the Advisory Council on 
     Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services to assist the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services in this task;
       Whereas, shortly after the National Alzheimer's Project Act 
     was enacted, the Department of Health and Human Services 
     created the Interagency Group on Alzheimer's Disease and 
     Related Dementias to inform the National Plan to Address 
     Alzheimer's Disease;
       Whereas, in formulating the draft National Plan to Address 
     Alzheimer's Disease, the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, the Interagency Group on Alzheimer's Disease and 
     Related Dementias, and the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's 
     Research, Care, and Services focused on 3 main topics, long-
     term services and support, clinical care, and research; and
       Whereas the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer's 
     Disease includes--
       (1) the bold and transformative goal of preventing and 
     treating Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025; and
       (2) specific performance metrics to optimize the quality 
     and efficiency of care, expand support for patients and 
     families, enhance public awareness and engagement, track 
     progress, and drive improvement: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate That the Senate--
       (1) supports the groundbreaking national goal of preventing 
     and treating Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025 and the 
     other goals of the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer's 
     Disease;
       (2) finds that basic science, medical research, and therapy 
     development, through enhanced research programs and expanded 
     public-private partnerships, are necessary for--
       (A) reaching the goal of preventing and treating 
     Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025; and
       (B) identifying a definitive cure for Alzheimer's disease;
       (3) calls for further public awareness and understanding of 
     Alzheimer's disease;
       (4) supports increased assistance for people with 
     Alzheimer's disease and the caregivers and families of those 
     people; and
       (5) encourages early diagnosis and access to high-quality 
     care for people with Alzheimer's disease.

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