[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E242-E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate March 
16th through March 20th as Brain Awareness Week.

[[Page E243]]

  The Brain Awareness Campaign is a worldwide celebration of the brain 
that brings together scientists, families, schools, and communities. 
Brain Awareness Week is the culmination of these efforts and is 
celebrated throughout the United States and in many parts of the world.
  This global celebration, launched by The Dana Alliance for Brain 
Initiatives in 1996, and supported by partners like the Society for 
Neuroscience, presents an opportunity to bring attention to the 
significant advances in brain science and advocate for science funding. 
Brain Awareness Week provides opportunities to learn more about the 
brain and educate the public on the importance of continued research.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, I am proud of 
the crucial neuroscience work being conducted in the United States, 
including in my district at the University of California, Davis. Last 
year, scientists at U.C. Davis harnessed the power of machine learning, 
a branch of artificial intelligence, to track anxiety-related 
behaviors. Their findings suggest a strong connection between early-
life nervousness and the eventual development of anxiety and depressive 
disorders. Anxiety disorders, the most prevalent mental illnesses in 
the United States, impact nearly 20 percent of the population, and 
disproportionately affect women. Researchers believe this research 
could pave the way for preventing these disorders before they fully 
develop.
  I am also proud to have authored the Mental Health Research 
Accelerator Act, which promotes public private partnerships to invest 
in further mental health research. The bill provides $10 billion in 
allocable tax credits over a six-year period, which are available to 
nonprofits, state and local agencies, and private companies who 
collaborate on neurological research.
  It is essential that we keep supporting neuroscience research to 
enable world-class researchers to continue their vital work on a wide 
range of conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, 
autism spectrum disorders, depression, and addiction. Events like Brain 
Awareness Week help every American understand how important this 
research is. Please join me in recognizing Brain Awareness Week and the 
crucial work of neuroscientists across the globe.

                          ____________________