[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10282-H10286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BUILDING OUR LARGEST DEMENTIA INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALZHEIMER'S ACT
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 2076) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the
expansion of activities related to Alzheimer's disease, cognitive
decline, and brain health under the Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy
Aging Program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2076
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Our Largest
Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act'' or the ``BOLD
Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act''.
SEC. 2. PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, COGNITIVE DECLINE, AND
BRAIN HEALTH UNDER THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND
HEALTHY AGING PROGRAM.
Part K of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280c et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the part heading, by adding ``and public health
programs for dementia'' at the end; and
(2) in subpart II--
(A) by striking the subpart heading and inserting the
following:
``Subpart II--Programs With Respect to Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Dementias''; and
(B) by striking section 398A (42 U.S.C. 280c-4) and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 398A. PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND
AWARENESS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED
DEMENTIAS.
``(a) Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public
Health Centers of Excellence.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the heads of other agencies as appropriate, shall award
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible
entities, such as institutions of higher education, State,
tribal, and local health departments, Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, associations, or other appropriate entities
for the establishment or support of regional centers to
address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by--
``(A) advancing the awareness of public health officials,
health care professionals, and the public, on the most
current information and research related to Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias, including cognitive decline,
brain health, and associated health disparities;
``(B) identifying and translating promising research
findings, such as findings from research and activities
conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health,
including Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers authorized by
section 445, into evidence-based programmatic interventions
for populations with Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias and caregivers for such populations; and
``(C) expanding activities, including through public-
private partnerships related to Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias and associated health disparities.
``(2) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under this subsection, an
entity shall submit to the Secretary an application
containing such agreements and information as the Secretary
may require, including a description of how the entity will--
``(A) coordinate, as applicable, with existing Federal,
State, and tribal programs related to Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias;
``(B) examine, evaluate, and promote evidence-based
interventions for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias, including underserved populations with
such conditions, and those who provide care for such
individuals; and
``(C) prioritize activities relating to--
``(i) expanding efforts, as appropriate, to implement
evidence-based practices to address Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias, including through the training of State,
local, and tribal public health officials and other health
professionals on such practices;
``(ii) supporting early detection and diagnosis of
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
``(iii) reducing the risk of potentially avoidable
hospitalizations of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias;
``(iv) reducing the risk of cognitive decline and cognitive
impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias;
``(v) enhancing support to meet the needs of caregivers of
individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
``(vi) reducing health disparities related to the care and
support of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias;
``(vii) supporting care planning and management for
individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
and
``(viii) supporting other relevant activities identified by
the Secretary or the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, as appropriate.
``(3) Considerations.--In awarding grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary
shall consider, among other factors, whether the entity--
``(A) provides services to rural areas or other underserved
populations;
``(B) is able to build on an existing infrastructure of
services and public health research; and
``(C) has experience with providing care or caregiver
support, or has experience conducting research related to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
``(4) Distribution of awards.--In awarding grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements under this subsection,
the Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall ensure
equitable distribution of awards based on geographic area,
including consideration of rural areas, and the burden of the
disease within sub-populations.
``(5) Data reporting and program oversight.--With respect
to a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under
this subsection, not later than 90 days after the end of the
first year of the period of assistance, and annually
thereafter for the duration of the grant, contract, or
agreement (including the duration of any renewal period as
provided for under paragraph (5)), the entity shall submit
data, as appropriate, to the Secretary regarding--
``(A) the programs and activities funded under the grant,
contract, or agreement; and
``(B) outcomes related to such programs and activities.
``(b) Improving Data on State and National Prevalence of
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.--
[[Page H10283]]
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as appropriate,
improve the analysis and timely reporting of data on the
incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias. Such data may include, as appropriate, information
on cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities
experienced by individuals with cognitive decline and their
caregivers. The Secretary may award grants, contracts, or
cooperative agreements to eligible entities for activities
under this paragraph.
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under this subsection, an
entity shall be a public or nonprofit private entity,
including institutions of higher education, State, local, and
tribal health departments, and Indian tribes and tribal
organizations, and submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(3) Data sources.--The analysis, timely public reporting,
and dissemination of data under this subsection may be
carried out using data sources such as the following:
``(A) The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
``(B) The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
``(C) The National Health Interview Survey.
``(c) Improved Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure
that activities and programs related to dementia under this
section do not unnecessarily duplicate activities and
programs of other agencies and offices within the Department
of Health and Human Services.''.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING STATE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS RELATED TO
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS.
Section 398 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280c-3) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``establishment of
program'' and inserting ``cooperative agreements to states
and public health departments for alzheimer's disease and
related dementias'';
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the heads of other agencies, as appropriate, shall award
cooperative agreements to health departments of States,
political subdivisions of States, and Indian tribes and
tribal organizations, to address Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias, including by reducing cognitive decline,
helping meet the needs of caregivers, and addressing unique
aspects of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to
support the development and implementation of evidence-based
interventions with respect to--
``(1) educating and informing the public, based on
evidence-based public health research and data, about
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
``(2) supporting early detection and diagnosis;
``(3) reducing the risk of potentially avoidable
hospitalizations for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias;
``(4) reducing the risk of cognitive decline and cognitive
impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias;
``(5) improving support to meet the needs of caregivers of
individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
``(6) supporting care planning and management for
individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
``(7) supporting other relevant activities identified by
the Secretary or the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, as appropriate''.; and
(3) by striking subsection (b);
(4) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (g);
(5) by inserting after subsection (a), the following:
``(b) Preference.--In awarding cooperative agreements under
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to
applications that focus on addressing health disparities,
including populations and geographic areas that have the
highest prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias.
``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a cooperative
agreement under this section, an eligible entity (pursuant to
subsection (a)) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including a plan
that describes--
``(1) how the applicant proposes to develop or expand,
programs to educate individuals through partnership
engagement, workforce development, guidance and support for
programmatic efforts, and evaluation with respect to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and in the case of
a cooperative agreement under this section, how the applicant
proposes to support other relevant activities identified by
the Secretary or Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, as appropriate.
``(2) the manner in which the applicant will coordinate
with Federal, tribal, and State programs related to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and appropriate
State, tribal, and local agencies, as well as other relevant
public and private organizations or agencies; and
``(3) the manner in which the applicant will evaluate the
effectiveness of any program carried out under the
cooperative agreement.
``(d) Matching Requirement.--Each health department that is
awarded a cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall
provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 30
percent of the amount provided under such agreement (which
may be provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out the
activities supported by the cooperative agreement.
``(e) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary may waive all or
part of the matching requirement described in subsection (d)
for any fiscal year for a health department of a State,
political subdivision of a State, or Indian tribe and tribal
organization (including those located in a rural area or
frontier area), if the Secretary determines that applying
such matching requirement would result in serious hardship or
an inability to carry out the purposes of the cooperative
agreement awarded to such health department of a State,
political subdivision of a State, or Indian tribe and tribal
organization.'';
(6) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by striking
``grant'' and inserting ``cooperative agreement''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Non-duplication of Effort.--The Secretary shall
ensure that activities under any cooperative agreement
awarded under this subpart do not unnecessarily duplicate
efforts of other agencies and offices within the Department
of Health and Human Services related to--
``(1) activities of centers of excellence with respect to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias described in
section 398A; and
``(2) activities of public health departments with respect
to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias described in
this section.''.
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.
Section 398B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280c-5) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``or cooperative agreement'' after
``grant'' each place that such appears;
(B) by striking ``section 398(a) to a State unless the
State'' and inserting ``sections 398 or 398A to an entity
unless the entity''; and
(C) by striking ``10'' and inserting ``5'';
(2) by striking subsection (b);
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(b) and (c), respectively;
(4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``section 398(a) to a State unless the State'' and inserting
``sections 398 or 398A to an entity unless the entity'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``expenditures required
in subsection (b);'' and inserting ``expenditures;'';
(5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``each demonstration project for which a
grant'' and inserting ``the activities for which an award'';
and
(ii) by striking ``section 398(a)'' and inserting
``sections 398 or 398A''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``6 months'' and
inserting ``1 year'';
(6) by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redesignated),
the following:
``(d) Definition.--In this subpart, the terms `Indian
tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given such
terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act.''; and
(7) in subsection (e), by striking ``$5,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 1988 through 1990'' and all that follows
through ``2002'' and inserting ``$20,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2020 through 2024''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
General Leave
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oregon?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2076, the BOLD Infrastructure
for Alzheimer's Act.
I would like to thank Representative Brett Guthrie from Kentucky for
his work to bring this bill to the House floor and for his terrific
partnership as a member and real leader on our Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Now, the BOLD Act is another bipartisan bill. It will enhance our
Nation's public health infrastructure. It will improve lives for
patients.
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's. It is the most
expensive disease in our country. It costs our health system hundreds
of billions of dollars each and every year, and those numbers are only
going up.
This legislation before us now will help us address those trends by
establishing centers of excellence to improve coordination of care with
local
[[Page H10284]]
public health departments for patients in our communities. These
centers will increase data collection, analysis, and timely reporting
to better inform researchers and policymakers across the country.
For patients and their families, early intervention and coordination
of care provided at these centers can make the burden of Alzheimer's
just a little bit lighter.
I have heard about the importance of the bill from Marya in Medford,
who, in 2012, became one of the 180,000 Oregonians who serve as unpaid
Alzheimer's caregivers for a loved one. In her case, that loved one was
her father.
When her father was diagnosed, she was faced with not only a daunting
system and difficult choices to make without information, but also an
unexpected cost of care of $342,000, on average.
According to Marya, if passed, the BOLD Act would ensure States such
as Oregon have the resources necessary to support earlier detection and
diagnosis of Alzheimer's and help healthcare givers like her to grapple
with this devastating disease.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of patients and their families across our
Nation, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this important
legislation as well.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the BOLD Infrastructure for
Alzheimer's Act, legislation that I have introduced with my good friend
and fellow Energy and Commerce Committee member, Congressman Brett
Guthrie.
I thank both Chairman Walden and incoming Chair Pallone for their
support of this particular legislation, and I greatly appreciate the
partnership with Congressman Guthrie and his staff for helping to get
this important legislation over the finish line today.
Alzheimer's is a brutal, devastating disease. Anyone whose life has
been touched by Alzheimer's or related dementias knows the heart-
wrenching toll that these diseases can and most often do take on an
individual, on a family, and on a community.
Since first coming to Congress, I have been laser-focused on how we
can reduce the devastating burden that Alzheimer's disease has on our
families and our Nation. We have had great success, many successes in
recent years with legislation such as the National Alzheimer's Project
Act and the Alzheimer's Accountability Act helping to coordinate our
medical research agenda and strengthen our case for the unprecedented
investments that Congress has appropriated to effectively treat and
find a cure for Alzheimer's.
With the HOPE for Alzheimer's Act, we were able to get CMS to provide
coverage for comprehensive care planning services to Medicare
beneficiaries and their caregivers following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's
disease. These care planning visits are a critical tool for families
struggling for answers and help to lessen the burden of this disease.
Now we are taking another huge step forward with the passage of the
BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation that will invest
in public health-oriented strategies for tackling Alzheimer's disease
and related dementias.
We know that in 2018, Alzheimer's and related dementias will cost our
country $277 billion. By smartly investing in a public health
infrastructure for this disease, we can reduce this cost burden on the
local, State, and Federal Government, and improve care for those who
have received an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
The BOLD Act will enhance our public health infrastructure in three
main ways:
First, it will create Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
public health centers of excellence. They will be dedicated to
promoting effective Alzheimer's disease and caregiving interventions,
as well as educating the public on Alzheimer's disease, cognitive
decline, and brain health. These centers will implement the CDC's
healthy aging public health road map and will take key steps to support
health and social services professionals, as well as families and
communities.
Second, the legislation will allow for State and local cooperative
agreements with HHS that will be awarded to State health departments,
subdivisions of States, or Tribal entities to develop and carry out
Alzheimer's interventions. These awards will help States build a
foundation and also help those States that are already investing in a
public health approach to Alzheimer's to amplify their initiatives
through public-private partnerships.
Finally, the BOLD Act will create data analysis and reporting
cooperative agreements with HHS that will ensure that data on
Alzheimer's, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are
analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner.
We need this legislation more than ever. The burden of Alzheimer's
disease does not take a day off, and Congress cannot afford to either.
In closing, I again thank Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone,
House leadership, our Senate sponsors, and everyone who had a hand in
this success today. Without such dedicated bipartisan Alzheimer's
champions throughout Congress, we would not be making this strong step
forward. It is mighty progress.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New
York for his leadership on this issue as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Burgess), so that he can speak on the legislation.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the recognition,
and I rise to speak in support of S. 2076, the BOLD Infrastructure for
Alzheimer's Act.
This bill was introduced on the Senate side by Senator Susan Collins
and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and it promotes public awareness of
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
But I also need to thank the champions on the House side of this
legislation, Representatives Brett Guthrie and Paul Tonko, both
valuable members of the Health Subcommittee.
Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that affects families across our
Nation. Every 65 seconds, another person in the United States develops
Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the
United States, with one in three seniors dying of Alzheimer's or a
related dementia.
Over the past several years, Congress has doubled down on its
commitment to researching Alzheimer's disease and the related dementias
by substantially increasing our appropriations for the initiatives
housed at the National Institutes of Health.
This legislation will require the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services to work with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to
establish or support regional centers to address Alzheimer's disease
and related dementias. The purpose of these centers of excellence is to
increase awareness among public health officials, healthcare
professionals, and the public as it relates to Alzheimer's disease and
the related dementias.
By empowering our healthcare workforce, and our patients with more
information, there will be increasing awareness of the disease, the
impact it has on individuals' lives, and the possibility of treatments
or interventions.
The effects of this disease are daunting for both the individual and
for their families. This bill is a step toward building an
infrastructure to support the ever-growing population of individuals
with Alzheimer's and their related dementias.
I support S. 2076, and I urge my fellow Members to do the same.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), another leader on healthcare in the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation,
the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act.
It has been great to work with my good friend from New York (Mr.
Tonko). We came here together as classmates in the 2008 election. We
worked together because we wanted to create a public health
infrastructure to help those with Alzheimer's and other
[[Page H10285]]
dementias receive the care they so desperately need.
Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and other
dementias, making it the most costly disease in America. In the Second
District, I have met countless Kentuckians who have been affected by
this disease in some way.
I, too, have shared similar experiences with a great-uncle, when I
was a child, having early onset Alzheimer's and seeing my family having
to try to understand and deal with it. When I was a child, it wasn't
understood as well as it is even now.
I watched my wife's grandfather go through it and saw my mother-in-
law being the primary caretaker and saw how it consumes the family.
So what it does to the person with the disease, what it does to the
family caring for the disease is of utmost importance in trying to move
towards a cure. But, also, it is fiscally responsible what we are doing
today because, by 2050, it is estimated it will cost the Federal
Government over $1 trillion if we do not have some advances in caring
for and delaying this onset.
I used to say that is for my children and my grandchildren and my
great-grandchildren, but, actually, in 30 years, I will be in my
eighties, so it will be affecting my children. So we need to move
forward, and it is fiscally responsible to do so.
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act would direct the CDC to
establish a network to support the prevention, treatment, and care of
Alzheimer's disease. In doing so, we hope to take care of those who
have Alzheimer's and other dementias now and, hopefully, find a cure
for these debilitating diseases in the near future.
This important bill has passed the Senate. I urge my colleagues to
support it today, and I look forward to seeing the President sign this
bill into law.
Before I close, I do want to thank all the staff for their hard work.
This legislation wouldn't be done without them.
Sophie Trainor in my office has worked tirelessly on this and other
bills at the end of this session, and I appreciate her assistance and
help.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) to speak on the legislation.
{time} 1545
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2076. I thank my good
friend, Brett Guthrie from the great State of Kentucky, and also Mr.
Tonko for sponsoring the House bill. This is so very important. The
Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, or
the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, is so very important. This
bill will create Alzheimer's disease centers of excellence, which are
badly needed.
Through these centers and public health departments, we can
strengthen our efforts at increasing early detection and diagnosis. It
will also allow for the voluntary collection of data so researchers can
analyze cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities in a
timely manner. I know that is going to help so much in finding a cure
for this disease.
I am a cosponsor of the House version of the bill.
In the Tampa area, we have the Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research
Institute, which is one of the largest freestanding Alzheimer's
research centers in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Guthrie). The time of the gentleman has
expired.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Florida.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this bill will help them in their efforts
of Alzheimer's awareness and research. Please support this bill. We
need it badly for our constituents. I appreciate all the help from all
the volunteers and the advocates.
Again, I urge strong support for this bill.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters). Representative Waters
is from California's 43rd Congressional District and has invested a lot
of time and work on the Alzheimer's issue, especially in her role as
co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank
Congressman Tonko for the leadership that he has provided and the
opportunity to rise to urge all of my colleagues to support S. 2076,
the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act.
I congratulate Senator Susan Collins for shepherding this bill
through the Senate. I join together with my colleagues, Representatives
Brett Guthrie, Paul Tonko, and Chris Smith, to introduce the House
version of this bill in order to promote early detection and diagnosis,
support caregivers, and reduce health disparities related to the care
and treatment of Alzheimer's patients.
As the House Democratic co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral
Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I know how devastating
this disease can be for patients, families, and caregivers. Alzheimer's
affects more than 5 million Americans, and it is the sixth leading
cause of death in the United States. There is no effective treatment,
no means of prevention, and no method for slowing the progression of
the disease.
Alzheimer's is very costly to society. In 2017, the direct cost of
care for Alzheimer's and other dementias was approximately $259
billion, with 67 percent of those costs paid by Medicare or Medicaid.
At the current rate, the direct costs of care for these tragic
conditions will reach more than $1 trillion by 2050.
Most Alzheimer's patients require constant care and attention,
especially when they are in the final stages of the disease. More than
15 million Americans provide unpaid care to family and friends living
with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The Alzheimer's Association
calculated that caregivers provided more than 18 billion hours of
unpaid care for people with dementia in 2016, at an estimated value of
more than $230 billion.
Alzheimer's has a devastating impact on caregivers. Compared with
caregivers for people without dementia, twice as many caregivers for
people with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial, and
physical stress.
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act establishes Alzheimer's
centers of excellence around the country to expand and promote
innovative and effective Alzheimer's interventions. These interventions
will support early detection, reduce the risk of hospitalizations and
cognitive decline, support caregivers, and reduce health disparities.
The BOLD Act will also improve data collection on the incidence and
prevalence of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
So, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here with my colleagues today,
and I would certainly urge all of my colleagues to support this
important legislation.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains on
each side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oregon has 12\1/2\
minutes remaining. The gentleman from New York has 12 minutes
remaining.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is a pharmacist on our
committee and a great leader on health issues on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2076, the BOLD
Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, because of what it does to address
this terrible disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly
5.7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. It is
currently the sixth leading cause of death in our country.
This debilitating disease continues to grow amongst our population,
but we still struggle to understand and find a cure. But there is hope.
This legislation would award agreements to establish national and
regional centers of excellence focused on Alzheimer's disease, as well
as support State public health departments, tribes, and others working
to fight this.
[[Page H10286]]
This disease impacts not only those who have it but also the millions
of caregivers responsible for the well-being of those who have
Alzheimer's. These are often family members or close friends who have
to make sacrifices in their own lives to care for others
This legislation will make great strides in better understanding the
cognitive decline associated with the disease, the impact on
caregivers, and how we can continue to fight for a cure.
I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 4256, the companion bill in the House
that was introduced by my good friend and colleague, Mr. Guthrie of
Kentucky.
I also want to thank those across the country who have continued to
be tireless advocates on this issue, including Ms. Donna Camacho who
has been a leader on this issue in my district. I can't overstate my
appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication that so many
people have poured into passing this legislation.
Today, with this passage, we can help bring about hope in the future
for those who are victims of this disease, like my legislative
director's grandmother, Lisa Verlsteffen, a courageous woman who lived
a long and happy life, but who eventually succumbed to the effects of
Alzheimer's after a long and hard fight.
While today's work isn't the final solution, it brings us one step
closer in the fight to eradicate this disease. I urge my colleagues to
support this legislation and vote ``yes'' on its passage.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge passage of this legislation. The BOLD
Act is another bit of foundation that we have done to move forward and
conquer Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Those of us who function in government understand full well that our
Federal, State, and local budgets have been impacted severely by
Alzheimer's disease, but, most importantly, families have been burdened
by this disease. So it is so important for us to move forward with this
legislation that provides, again, hope to those families and
individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of the legislation, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I, too, join my friend and colleague from
New York and our friends across the building in the Senate in support
of the BOLD Act, S. 2076.
Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support it, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carter of Georgia). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 2076.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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