[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16513-16516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 PROGRESS ON CURING PARKINSON'S DISEASE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to 
commemorate the anniversary of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease 
Research Act. This act, which was passed 4 years ago this month, has 
strengthened our national research effort to develop more effective 
treatments and hopefully a cure for Parkinson's disease.
  Before I say what I have to say, I want to salute the millions of 
people who are in the daily battle against this disease.

                              {time}  1700

  I also want to thank Joan Samuelson and the Parkinson's Action 
Network for their hard work on behalf of all of us.
  Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my 
colleagues on the Congressional Parkinson's Working Group. To name a 
few, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Upton), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen); they have been on the front 
lines in fighting for research dollars and holding various projects 
accountable for the wise use of these funds.
  Parkinson's is a devastating disease that affects more than 1 million 
Americans and their families. Fifty thousand people are newly diagnosed 
with Parkinson's each year, and of those with Parkinson's today, 
roughly 40 percent are under the age of 60. Most of us know someone 
with Parkinson's, or we know someone whose life has been touched by 
Parkinson's. For some of us, this issue hits close to home.
  Many people knew my dad, Mo Udall, and his story. He enjoyed great 
health until 1976, when he broke both his arms in a fall off a ladder, 
caught viral pneumonia, his appendix burst, he got peritonitis, and he 
contracted Parkinson's Disease, all within 8 months. He had a long 
battle with Parkinson's before he passed away in December of 1998.
  One way my father chose to deal with Parkinson's was to make light of 
it. Shortly after he was diagnosed, there was a scandal involving a 
woman by the name of Paula Parkinson, a blond lobbyist who kissed and 
told about her affairs with several Congressmen. He used to tell a joke 
that there were two kinds of Parkinson's disease, the kind discovered 
by an English doctor during the 1800s and the kind you get when you go 
to Florida with a blond lobbyist. There were no similarities between 
the two afflictions, he said, except they both cause you to lose sleep 
and they both give you the shakes.
  In all seriousness, though, I think Mo would be humbled and honored 
by the fact that this important act and the centers of excellence it 
creates are named after him. He dedicated his life to making a 
difference in the lives of people, and by having his name associated 
with this act, he continues to have an impact on the world even after 
his death.
  The act authorizes $100 million at the National Institutes of Health 
for Parkinson's research. It also establishes 10 centers for research 
throughout the Nation and creates a national Parkinson's information 
clearinghouse for support of research and education.
  Mr. Speaker, the Udall Act has helped us make tremendous progress in 
the fight against Parkinson's and in understanding other 
neurodegenerative diseases. That is why we need to act soon and 
reauthorize the act. We need to give researchers the necessary funding 
and support to combat this debilitating and ruthless disease.
  We will be introducing legislation in the next month to reauthorize 
the act, and I fervently hope that my colleagues will work with us to 
make the dream of finding a cure for Parkinson's come true.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to my colleague and 
good friend, the gentleman from the great State of North Carolina (Mr. 
Price).
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding to me and want to commend him for calling this Special Order 
today and giving Members an opportunity to join in honoring the late 
Morris Udall and in observing the fourth anniversary of the Morris K. 
Udall Parkinson's Research Act.
  Mr. Speaker, Parkinson's disease and related disorders afflict 
approximately 1 million Americans. Sixty thousand more are diagnosed 
each year with Parkinson's disease. Approximately 40 percent of those 
afflicted are under the age of 60. This is a devastating disease, and 
its incidence probably actually is underreported. Because it is not 
contagious and it does not have to be reported, we probably 
underestimate the extent of this devastating disorder. It is estimated 
that Parkinson's disease costs society $25 billion or more annually.
  I appreciate very much our colleague, the gentleman from Colorado 
(Mr. Udall), coming to the floor today and sharing the story with his 
colleagues of his father's illness; and of course, we all remember his 
father's great accomplishments. Mo Udall was one of this body's 
greatest Members in the 20th century, a man of great humor, great 
concern for those in this society who are less fortunate, and a man of 
great achievement in this body. Mo Udall's last years were marred by 
Parkinson's disease, but he dealt with it courageously.
  We are all fortunate that his son, our colleague from Colorado, and 
his nephew, the gentleman from Arizona, are carrying on his good work 
in this body.

[[Page 16514]]

We appreciate what the gentleman from Colorado is doing today and 
appreciate especially his sharing the story of his father with us and 
reminding us of the importance of carrying on this work, which we do in 
his name.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I thank the gentleman for expressing those 
sentiments, and I know everyone in my family appreciates the affection 
and respect that the gentleman has acknowledged that exists for my 
father.
  I would add to the comments that the gentleman made that I think 
Parkinson's disease should truly be characterized as the most common 
uncommon disease. And by that I mean, the researchers tell us only 
about a million Americans have the disease. But I guarantee that if we 
were to walk out on the streets outside the Capitol here and we were to 
talk to four or five people, by the time we would get to the fifth 
person, they will know somebody in their immediate family or a friend 
who has Parkinson's disease and who is battling it valiantly.
  They would also, I think, be excited to know that we are so close to 
not only finding ways to combat the disease but to actually identify a 
cure, and that is why it is so important to reauthorize this act and 
continue the momentum that has been generated over the past 10 years.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. That is absolutely true. The number of 
families affected by this disease directly and indirectly is, of 
course, in the millions, and that includes my own family. My late 
father had a brother who was afflicted with Parkinson's. He had an 
uncle who was afflicted with Parkinson's.
  My dad, incidentally, was a great fan of the gentleman's father. I 
remember when I was the Democratic Party chairman in North Carolina, we 
were fortunate enough to line up Mo Udall as the speaker at our annual 
party banquet. It was over in the western part of the State, so my dad, 
who resided in east Tennessee, was able to come over for this function. 
He could not stop laughing. He said Mo Udall was the funniest man he 
had ever heard or seen anywhere, almost enough to make a Democrat out 
of him!
  Mo Udall was a wonderful man who brought great good humor to 
politics, great warmth, and a wonderful spirit. He later autographed 
his book ``Too Funny to Be President,'' and we gave it to my dad to his 
great delight. So Mo Udall was a huge personal favorite in our family.
  One cannot imagine a more fitting monument, a more fitting tribute to 
Mo Udall, than to pass this research act aimed at the scourge of 
Parkinson's disease and to carry out this path-breaking research in Mo 
Udall's name.
  The gentleman, of course, is quite accurate also in depicting the 
promise of this research. We have now across the country 11 Morris K. 
Udall Parkinson's Research Centers. One of those is at Duke University 
in my part of North Carolina. Dr. Jeffery Vance leads the Udall Center 
at Duke University, where a research team is using several state-of-
the-art methods to find genes that may contribute to the etiology of 
Parkinson's disease and to distinguish the genes that contribute to 
familial Parkinson's from those involved in sporadic cases. That is 
path-breaking research, typical of what is going on in these research 
centers.
  The Udall program also has expanded basic and clinical research at 
institutions across this country. It has established the Morris K. 
Udall awards to encourage innovative research, and supported the 
creation of Parkinson's data banks and information clearinghouses in 
support of research and education.
  So this is a landmark statute and the programs that it has spawned 
are ongoing and are full of promise. It is very, very important not 
only to observe this fourth anniversary of the Udall Act's passage, but 
also to pledge here and now that we are going to continue this work and 
build on this work.
  We must double the NIH's budget over these 5 years, and I hope and 
believe we are on the way to doing that in this year's appropriations 
cycle. NIH has developed, under the directions laid down by the Udall 
Act, a 5-year Parkinson's disease research agenda. Last year, Congress 
funded the first year of that plan, so within NIH it is vitally 
important to continue that specific research program.
  The Udall Act has gotten us started, and it has provided the 
framework for the comprehensive research that we simply must undertake 
as a Nation on Parkinson's disease. And I would say to the gentleman 
that I hope, in having this Special Order today and observing this 
fourth anniversary, that this can be an occasion for all of us, all of 
our colleagues, to resolve to continue to build upon the vital and 
necessary work that the Udall Act has gotten under way.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. If I might add an additional comment, I am 
confident that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us 
in this important effort to reauthorize this piece of legislation. 
Parkinson's is not a Republican or a Democrat or a Green Party or 
Libertarian Party disease. It affects people across our country and 
across the world. And the work that has been done, as the gentleman 
points out, is far-reaching. And we are so close to understanding how 
to not only, as I mentioned earlier, make sure that the disease is 
mitigated but literally cured.
  The area of the brain where this takes place has been identified and 
mapped. And as the gentleman points out, there are indications that the 
disease is, in some cases, genetic or hereditary; but in other cases, 
is environmentally induced. There is excellent work going on in the 
Department of Defense also, working with veterans, and they are looking 
through their own program on how to combat Parkinson's disease or 
contributing to the efforts at NIH has undertaken.
  I want to again thank the gentleman for taking his time to come to 
the floor and to point out to our colleagues the great opportunity we 
have to make a difference in a lot of lives. If we think about a 
million Americans who have the disease, think about the extended 
families that are affected by the disease and the costs that are 
incurred, not just financially, but emotionally, in these communities, 
this is a terrible disease; and it is one that we can cure and we ought 
to get about the business of it now.
  So I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for 
his comments here today and for carrying on this great work. We must 
use this occasion to resolve to press forward.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I thank the gentleman for joining us today.
  It is my pleasure at this point to yield time to my colleague, the 
gentleman from the great State of Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague, the 
gentleman from Colorado, for yielding time for me to speak on this 
issue. Before I begin, I want to mention that, of course, I never had 
the opportunity to meet his father, Mo Udall, but I have nothing but 
respect for the reputation that he has established in public service, 
and I know that he would be proud of his son, the gentleman from 
Colorado, in continuing that proud family tradition of strong 
commitment to public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the fourth anniversary of the 
passage of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act and to stress 
the vital importance of expanding support and research for treatment of 
Parkinson's disease. Named for Arizona Representative Mo Udall, the 
Parkinson's Research Act expands basic and clinical research on 
Parkinson's disease and establishes Morris K. Udall Centers for awards 
for excellence in Parkinson's disease research.
  Since its introduction, this landmark legislation has received 
overwhelming congressional support. In the 105th Congress, the Morris 
K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act garnered 255 cosponsors, and in the 
106th Congress it passed the Senate by a nearly unanimous vote of 95 to 
3.
  I am proud that Congress embraced this initiative, as more people 
suffer from Parkinson's disease than multiple sclerosis, muscular 
dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease combined.

[[Page 16515]]



                              {time}  1715

  But our work is far from over. About 60,000 Americans are diagnosed 
with this disease each year, that is one person every 9 minutes, and 
more than half a million living with Parkinson's disease today.
  Fortunately, there may be some hope on the horizon. Parkinson's 
disease is one of the many diseases for which stem cell research offers 
significant promise. Yesterday I testified before the Senate Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee about the potential for 
embryonic stem cell research to alleviate pain and suffering in 
millions of people. It is my strong hope that our Nation's premier 
researchers will be able to engage in this ground-breaking research 
expeditiously to save, lengthen, and dramatically improve the quality 
of life of those who live with Parkinson's and other debilitating 
diseases and conditions.
  On this anniversary of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act, 
I urge my colleagues to follow through on our commitment to double the 
budget of the National Institutes of Health, increase funding for the 
Morris K. Udall Center, and break down the barriers to unprecedented, 
life-saving stem cell research. Until we have conquered Parkinson's, 
our work is not complete.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for taking 
the time to come speak on this important issue; and I want to associate 
myself with his comments on stem cell research.
  Stem cell research is an important part of understanding Parkinson's 
disease and eventually finding a cure. I look forward to working with 
the gentleman in the days and months and years to come to see that that 
promise is fulfilled. I thank the gentleman for taking the time to join 
us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the State of Texas (Ms. 
Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Udall), one, for his vision, for his family, and for this 
very special legislation of the day to honor the authorization, the 
fourth anniversary of the authorization and passage of the Morris K. 
Udall Parkinson's Research Act. This is an important anniversary.
  Throughout our tenure in Congress there are ups and downs. What I 
consider an up is an opportunity to meet with my constituents from my 
district and all over the Nation. Some of the most eloquent and 
articulate persons are those who are physically suffering from 
Parkinson's and others who come to collaborate on the importance of 
finding a cure and the ability to research this debilitating disease.
  In the name of Morris K. Udall, this legislation passed an important 
milestone in striking a chord for finding out the reason that this 
disease has gotten such a grip on people around the world. This 
research or this research act has been funded and the legislation, of 
course, was passed through the leadership of Senator Wellstone in terms 
of adding an amendment and adding additional dollars. We now come to a 
time where it is necessary to reauthorize it.
  Even more so during this stem cell research debate that I find the 
importance of this particular legislation which continually persists in 
attempting to find a cure by added research. It never allows to rest 
the continued theorizing and study of the importance of discovering new 
ways to attack this disease.
  I am certainly disappointed that we are at a certain standstill in 
stem cell research. I would have wanted and do want the President to go 
further. I believe that he was well-intentioned but may be misadvised 
by those who would think that we had enough of the research elements 
that could do the vast massive research that needs to be done. This 
research act has shown that the broader, the better, the fuller, the 
better.
  Let me congratulate the gentleman on the number of centers that 
already exist. We look forward to helping the funding expand, not 
frivolously, but so that centers could be expanded across the country. 
I would certainly welcome one in Houston, Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for, one, having the insight 
to be at the forefront of the reauthorization of this legislation. Let 
me also say that I would willingly join as an original co-sponsor of 
this legislation and offer to say to those who have been suffering from 
Parkinson's for time before and today and tomorrow that we will 
continue to fight until we can find a cure.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her 
remarks and for her vision as well.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to urge all of the Members 
of this body to join us in a bipartisan fashion when we introduce this 
legislation in the next couple of weeks to reauthorize the Udall Act.
  I want to thank, in particular, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Upton), the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans), and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) 
for their support and hard work on behalf of all the people and all the 
families who suffer from Parkinson's disease. I know we will do the 
right thing in this body and reauthorize this very, very important act 
and we can all be proud when we find the cure for Parkinson's sooner 
rather than later.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the fourth 
anniversary of the passage of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research 
Act. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to my friend and 
colleague than this legislation.
  Mo Udall was a member of the House Representatives for thirty years 
from 1961-1990. He earned the respect of all who served with him 
through his humor and civility as well as his ability to work with 
Members from both sides of the aisle. Mo's courage and determination to 
continue to serve even after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 
in 1978 was an inspiration for all who had the privilege to be around 
him during that time. He was determined to continue to lead a full and 
vigorous life even in the face of this debilitating disease. Although 
his death in 1998 was a blow to all of us, his legacy lives on in the 
great and important work started through this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, Parkinson's disease afflicts 1 million Americans, 40 
percent of whom are under the age of 60. This landmark legislation 
dramatically expanded and coordinated clinical research into 
Parkinson's disease as well as established the Morris K. Udall Centers 
across the country. These centers have been an invaluable resource in 
the fight against Parkinson's disease. They have provided state-of-the-
art training facilities for new researchers and the resulting work has 
greatly increased our knowledge and understanding of the disease.
  We have an opportunity and an obligation today to rededicate 
ourselves to the goal of finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. Our 
initial investment into research four years ago has yielded impressive 
returns. Still, however, much more needs to be done. Mr. Speaker, I 
call on Congress to continue the valuable work we started four years 
ago and fully fund federal research into Parkinson's disease done by 
the National Institutes of Health and the Morris K. Udall Centers.
  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I commemorate today the anniversary of the 
Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act, and I am pleased to be here 
among other champions of the cause from the Parkinson's Working Group 
here in the House.
  Mo Udall was more than a colleague. He was a friend. We didn't always 
agree on politics, but we could always share a laugh. I remember flying 
him around on my plane in NM. And, I remember helping to pick up his 
papers when they fell to the ground in the Interior Committee.
  But, this anniversary honors more than Mo Udall. It honors our 
commitment to helping science keep it's promise. It has been more than 
fifteen years since America began to hear that a cure for Parkinson's 
was just around the corner, . . . perhaps just five years away. Yet it 
is not here yet. This Udall Act of 1997 was the first time we put the 
money where science's mouth was. Thanks to NIH, the U.S. Army, Udall 
Centers of Excellence, and private research carried on largely thanks 
to an outstanding advocacy community, we are still on target.
  As this Anniversary hits . . . it also marks the sunset of the bill. 
Perhaps it is time we reauthorize it. Let us continue to help science 
keep its promise. Thank you.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to honor the memory of one 
of our great

[[Page 16516]]

former colleagues, the late Mo Udall, who served in this House for 
nearly three decades. Four years ago this week, Congress passed the 
Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Act as a tribute to his 
service and the courage that he displayed in the face of his illness. 
Sadly, Mo lost his battle with Parkinson's Disease in 1998. But his 
memory lives on in this Congress and in the research labs across the 
country that bear his name.
  I served with Mo Udall from 1983 to his retirement in 1990. During 
those years, I came to know and admire him as an effective legislator, 
a consummate humorist, and a dear friend. Mo always had a kind word and 
a joke for everyone. He brought a levity to this body that you wouldn't 
expect from someone fighting for his life. Ask anyone here who had the 
pleasure to serve with Mo and they will have a side splitting tale of 
the time that Mo brought the house down. Coupled with his good humor, 
was a commitment to serve this nation well. Despite his Parkinston's 
Disease, he served as chairman of the Interior Committee where he was a 
champion of preserving America's widerness areas. I admired Mo then, 
but my esteem for him grew even greater when I was diagnosed with 
Parkinston's Disease ins 1995.
  Our purpose here is to commemorate the passage of the Udall Act, 
which brings much needed resources to the study of Parkinson's Disease. 
The time has come to reauthorize the bill. And today, we have the honor 
of being joined by Mo's son, Congressman Mark Udall, who will lead the 
charge to see this program continued. We will be introducing the 
reauthorization bill in the coming month. I hope that all of our 
colleagues will join us in supporting that bill.
  The 11 Morris K. Udall Centers are busy conducting research on every 
aspect of Parkinson's Disease. The scientists there are some of the 
best and the brightest in their field. They believe that a cure for 
Parkinson's Disease is on the horizon--that it could be discovered in 
as littlle as five years. These researching give me hope. They are out 
there everyday working to make my life and the lives of the one million 
Americans living with Parkinson's Disease better. And let me tell you--
it's nice having these bright men and women on your side. I know they 
will find a cure, but they can't do it without our continued support.
  These Udall Centers are just one component of a larger effort on the 
part of NIH to develop more effective treatments, enhance prevention 
efforts, and eventually find a cure of Parkinson's Disease. At the 
request of Congress, NIH developed a five year Parkinson's Disease 
Research Agenda to bring the nation closer to a cure. Last year, we 
funded the first year of that agenda. This year, we must fund the 
second year by increasing funding for Parkinson's Disease research by 
$143 million. I am hopeful that the Appropriations Committee will 
follow through with what it started and honor Congress' commitment to 
the NIH Research Agenda.
  These initiatives are the lifeblood of the Parkinson's community. The 
Udall Centers and the NIH funded research are leading the world in the 
path to a cure. I encourage my colleagues support these programs.

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