[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DR. EMMANUEL BILIRAKIS AND HONORABLE JENNIFER WEXTON NATIONAL PLAN TO 
                          END PARKINSON'S ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 13, 2023

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2365, the Dr. 
Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End 
Parkinson's Act.
  I am honored to rise in support today of this bipartisan legislation. 
Our work here today will allow people, of all backgrounds, who have 
experiences with Parkinson's to have hope for a future with more 
research, treatments, and cures.
  This bipartisan legislation will bring diverse federal and non-
federal stakeholders together along with patients and caregivers, to 
build a national strategy for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and 
cures for different forms of Parkinson's Disease.
  This bill is also a historic step in our federal government's work to 
research and share data on this disease, following the model of the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act which became law in 2011.
  Parkinsons's disease, affecting more than 1 million people in the 
United States and nearly 10 million people worldwide, is the second 
most common and fastest-growing neurological disease. Although typical 
diagnosis occurs around age 50, this is not an ``older person'' disease 
and does not look the same for every patient. When a large population 
of people have a disease like Parkinson's disease, it is a matter of 
life or death to have an accurate understanding of how many people have 
the disease, where they live and why they have it. Shining a light on 
research that looks not only at genetic factors but also environmental 
factors, will provide promise for all aspects of the disease and 
potential triggers.
  I want to thank my colleagues, Chairwoman McMorris Rogers, 
Representative Tonko, Representative Wexton, and Representative 
Bilirakis, for working with us to ensure we as a country take this 
historic step in combating Parkinson's disease on all fronts. It is a 
wonderful legacy to our champions to name the legislation after two 
tenacious fighters who will not and did not succumb to the disease 
without making a mark.
  Although Rep. Wexton believes that many of the benefits from this 
legislation may not come to fruition in her battle against the disease, 
I disagree. The fact that she is fighting every single day, with grace, 
strength, and humor, is the motivating benefit from today. We see her 
face and hear her clear voice in every aspect of this bill. Her sheer 
determination, with the thousands of advocates who have shared their 
stories, brought us all together today and will be honored in this 
work.
  This bipartisan work before us is the backbone of our Committee, and 
I am pleased we once again embraced the same principles to ensure that 
all patients are included in a plan to end this deadly illness. It is 
my deep belief that this legislation will make significant strides to 
end Parkinson's and will provide our family members, caregivers, and 
friends with real hope.

                          ____________________