[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 PROGRESS ON CURING PARKINSON'S DISEASE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Working 
Group on Parkinson's Disease, i rise today to recognize the fourth 
anniversary of the passage of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research 
Act.
  I was so very honored to be an original cosponsor to this 
legislation, named for Arizona Representative Mo Udall.
  This landmark legislation expands basic and clinical research in 
Parkinson's Disease and establishes Morris K. Udall Centers, for awards 
for Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research.
  Today I express my full support for a continuation of Parkinson's 
Disease research.
  Approximately, 1,000,000 Americans are afflicted with Parkinson's, 
with 60,000 more diagnosed each year--one every nine minutes.
  Approximately 40% of those afflicted are under the age of 60, 
effectively removing them from the work force.
  Parkinson's is the biological opposite of Alzheimer's disease: while 
Alzheimer's destroys the mind, leaving the body intact and functioning, 
Parkinson's destroys the body's ability to function, taking away the 
physical abilities necessary to daily life while leaving the mind 
prisoner inside the body.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope as science moves forward, especially in 
the area of stem cell research, which holds hope for the millions with 
Parkinson's that a cure will be found soon, and that the legacy of Mo 
Udall will live forever.




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