[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 39 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 6774, THE BOXING THERAPHY FOR PARKINSON'S ACCESS 
                                  ACT

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2022

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on the 
issue of access to effective therapies for Parkinson's disease for our 
veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 110,000 
veterans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. While the exact 
causes of Parkinson's are unknown, many veterans developed the disease 
after exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals while serving our 
Nation.
  PD is a lifelong and progressive disease for which there is no cure, 
and frustratingly little progress has been made in recent decades in 
the race to find new effective treatments for Parkinson's. The most 
powerful and common drug for Parkinson's, levodopa, was developed in 
the 1960s.
  But one of the strongest tools we have to fight Parkinson's isn't a 
drug, it's exercise. Exercise can help manage, slow, or even prevent 
the progression of Parkinson's symptoms, and help PD patients stay 
active and avoid isolation in their communities. While many types of 
exercise have shown to be beneficial for PD patients, boxing has become 
an increasingly popular exercise for improving the physical, mental, 
and emotional health of those with PD, and more and more gyms are 
offering boxing programs specifically for those diagnosed with it. One 
such gym in my district, Parkinson's Boxing in Kenmore, New York, is 
dedicated solely to helping those with PD and similar disorders.
  But for many veterans with PD, these kinds of programs remain 
financially out ofreach. We owe it to our veterans and active-duty 
service members to provide resources for them when dealing with the 
detrimental effects of toxic substances and degenerative diseases like 
PD. That is why I have introduced a bill, H.R. 6774, the Boxing Therapy 
for Parkinson's Access Act, 'that would require the VA to cover boxing 
exercise classes for veterans who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's 
disease or similar movement disorders. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for 
the opportunity to highlight this issue and how we can better help our 
veterans access the therapies that we know can make a difference in 
their fight against Parkinson's disease.

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