[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E791-E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California, 
Congressman John Garamendi, for the time, and I congratulate him for 
organizing this evening's Special Order Hour on Alzheimer's Disease in 
preparation for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month (June).
  As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's 
Disease, I know how devastating this disease can be on patients, 
families, and caregivers. The Task Force works on a bipartisan basis to 
increase awareness of Alzheimer's, strengthen the federal commitment to 
improving the lives of those affected by the disease, and assist the 
caregivers who provide their needed support. I am pleased that 
Congressman Garamendi has decided to take an active role in the work of 
the Task Force.
  Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United 
States. One in nine Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer's, and one 
in three Americans age 85 and older suffers from this disease. 
Furthermore, these numbers will grow substantially in the coming years. 
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 7 million 
Americans over age 65 will have Alzheimer's by the year 2025. Every 68 
seconds, another person in the United States develops Alzheimer's.
  Caregiving for patients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of 
dementia is especially difficult. More than 15 million Americans 
provide unpaid care for a person with dementia. Caregivers include 
spouses, children, and grandchildren. Caregivers face a variety of 
challenges, ranging from assisting patients with feeding, bathing, and 
dressing, to helping them take their medications, managing their 
finances, and making legal decisions.
  Last year, I introduced two bills to address the needs of patients 
with Alzheimer's disease, their families and caregivers. The 
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 2975) authorizes grants to 
public and non-profit organizations to expand training and support 
services for families and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. The 
Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program Reauthorization Act 
(H.R. 2976) helps Alzheimer's patients who wander away from their homes 
and are unable to tell people in the community who they are or where 
they live. Both of these bills have more than 30 bipartisan cosponsors, 
including Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), my friend and fellow 
Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
  Finally, I am working hard to pass H.R. 1508, a bill to provide for 
the issuance of an Alzheimer's Disease Research Semipostal Stamp. This 
bill was originally introduced by now-Senator Ed Markey, prior to his 
election to the Senate, and now has more than 40 bipartisan cosponsors. 
It requires the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell an Alzheimer's 
Disease Research Semipostal Stamp. These stamps would cost more than 
regular postage stamps, with the extra funds going to the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH) to search for new treatments and a cure for 
Alzheimer's disease. Participation by individual postal patrons would 
be voluntary, and only those who choose to buy the Alzheimer's stamp 
would pay more for postage. This would be similar to the popular and 
successful Breast Cancer Research Semipostal Stamp.
  Once again, I thank my colleague from California for organizing 
tonight's Special Order. I look forward to coordinating the activities 
of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease more closely 
with him as we rededicate ourselves to Alzheimer's research, treatment 
and caregiver support so that we can help all of the patients and 
families affected by this tragic disease.

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