[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 22095-22099]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3036) to establish the Office of the National Alzheimer's 
Project.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3036

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Alzheimer's Project 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. THE NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT.

       (a) Definition of Alzheimer's.--In this Act, the term 
     ``Alzheimer's'' means Alzheimer's disease and related 
     dementias.
       (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services the National 
     Alzheimer's Project (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Project'').
       (c) Purpose of the Project.--The Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, or the Secretary's designee, shall--
       (1) be responsible for the creation and maintenance of an 
     integrated national plan to overcome Alzheimer's;
       (2) provide information and coordination of Alzheimer's 
     research and services across all Federal agencies;
       (3) accelerate the development of treatments that would 
     prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer's;
       (4) improve the--
       (A) early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease; and
       (B) coordination of the care and treatment of citizens with 
     Alzheimer's;
       (5) ensure the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations 
     at higher risk for Alzheimer's or least likely to receive 
     care, in clinical, research, and service efforts with the 
     purpose of decreasing health disparities in Alzheimer's; and
       (6) coordinate with international bodies to integrate and 
     inform the fight against Alzheimer's globally.
       (d) Duties of the Secretary.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, or the Secretary's designee, shall--
       (A) oversee the creation and updating of the national plan 
     described in paragraph (2); and
       (B) use discretionary authority to evaluate all Federal 
     programs around Alzheimer's, including budget requests and 
     approvals.
       (2) National plan.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, or the Secretary's designee, shall carry out an 
     annual assessment of the Nation's progress in preparing for 
     the escalating burden of Alzheimer's, including both 
     implementation steps and recommendations for priority actions 
     based on the assessment.
       (e) Advisory Council.--
       (1) In general.--There is established an Advisory Council 
     on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services (referred to in 
     this Act as the ``Advisory Council'').
       (2) Membership.--
       (A) Federal members.--The Advisory Council shall be 
     comprised of the following experts:
       (i) A designee of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention.
       (ii) A designee of the Administration on Aging.
       (iii) A designee of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
     Services.
       (iv) A designee of the Indian Health Service.
       (v) A designee of the Office of the Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health.
       (vi) The Surgeon General.
       (vii) A designee of the National Science Foundation.
       (viii) A designee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (ix) A designee of the Food and Drug Administration.
       (x) A designee of the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
     Quality.
       (B) Non-federal members.--In addition to the members 
     outlined in subparagraph (A), the Advisory Council shall 
     include 12 expert members from outside the Federal 
     Government, which shall include--
       (i) 2 Alzheimer's patient advocates;
       (ii) 2 Alzheimer's caregivers;
       (iii) 2 health care providers;
       (iv) 2 representatives of State health departments;
       (v) 2 researchers with Alzheimer's-related expertise in 
     basic, translational, clinical, or drug development science; 
     and
       (vi) 2 voluntary health association representatives, 
     including a national Alzheimer's disease organization that 
     has demonstrated experience in research, care, and patient 
     services, and a State-based advocacy organization that 
     provides services to families and professionals, including 
     information and referral, support groups, care consultation, 
     education, and safety services.
       (3) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet quarterly 
     and such meetings shall be open to the public.
       (4) Advice.--The Advisory Council shall advise the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary's 
     designee.
       (5) Annual report.--The Advisory Council shall provide to 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the 
     Secretary's designee and Congress--
       (A) an initial evaluation of all federally funded efforts 
     in Alzheimer's research, clinical care, and institutional-, 
     home-, and community-based programs and their outcomes;
       (B) initial recommendations for priority actions to expand, 
     eliminate, coordinate, or condense programs based on the 
     program's performance, mission, and purpose;
       (C) initial recommendations to--
       (i) reduce the financial impact of Alzheimer's on--

       (I) Medicare and other federally funded programs; and
       (II) families living with Alzheimer's disease; and

       (ii) improve health outcomes; and
       (D) annually thereafter, an evaluation of the 
     implementation, including outcomes, of the recommendations, 
     including priorities if necessary, through an updated 
     national plan under subsection (d)(2).
       (6) Termination.--The Advisory Council shall terminate on 
     December 31, 2025.
       (f) Data Sharing.--Agencies both within the Department of 
     Health and Human Services and outside of the Department that 
     have data relating to Alzheimer's shall share such data with 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the 
     Secretary's designee, to enable the Secretary, or the 
     Secretary's designee, to complete the report described in 
     subsection (g).
       (g) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, or the Secretary's designee, shall submit to 
     Congress--
       (1) an annual report that includes an evaluation of all 
     federally funded efforts in Alzheimer's research, clinical 
     care, and institutional-, home-, and community-based programs 
     and their outcomes;
       (2) an evaluation of all federally funded programs based on 
     program performance, mission, and purpose related to 
     Alzheimer's disease;
       (3) recommendations for--
       (A) priority actions based on the evaluation conducted by 
     the Secretary and the Advisory Council to--
       (i) reduce the financial impact of Alzheimer's on--

       (I) Medicare and other federally funded programs; and
       (II) families living with Alzheimer's disease; and

       (ii) improve health outcomes;
       (B) implementation steps; and
       (C) priority actions to improve the prevention, diagnosis, 
     treatment, care, institutional-, home-, and community-based 
     programs of Alzheimer's disease for individuals with 
     Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers; and
       (4) an annually updated national plan.
       (h) Sunset.--The Project shall expire on December 31, 2025.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3036, the National 
Alzheimer's Project Act, as amended.
  Last week, the Subcommittee on Health in the Energy and Commerce 
Committee held a hearing on Alzheimer's disease and the many challenges 
associated with it.

[[Page 22096]]

  Alzheimer's is an irreversible progressive brain disease that slowly 
destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually even the ability to 
carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer's can affect every part of the 
brain and rob its victims of their very lives and dignity, and it is 
fatal.
  Alzheimer's is estimated to be the sixth leading cause of death in 
our country. The disease, which is estimated to affect as many as 5.1 
million Americans, has a devastating impact, not just on families but 
on our national economy. It is projected that the national costs 
associated with caring for those with Alzheimer's exceeds $172 billion 
each year, with the figure expected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050. 
These costs represent the burden on Medicare, Medicaid, private 
insurance, caregiving, and out-of-pocket costs for families. Of this 
figure, $123 billion can be attributed to Medicare and Medicaid alone.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act will require the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to create and maintain a national plan to 
overcome Alzheimer's disease. It will also create an advisory council 
on Alzheimer's research, care, and services.
  I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, Representative 
Markey, for his tireless leadership on this bill. He is also the co-
chair of the congressional task force on Alzheimer's disease, and he 
works hard on all aspects of trying to find a cure and to do research 
with regard to Alzheimer's.
  I urge my colleagues to support the National Alzheimer's Project Act 
today.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TERRY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3036, the National Alzheimer's 
Project Act. Alzheimer's afflicts millions of Americans and their 
families and friends. It is a personal tragedy for both patients and 
everyone who loves them.
  I had an opportunity to meet with the families during a support group 
just recently. I heard their stories about their loved ones slipping 
away with this form of dementia, and I heard their stories of the 
pressures and sadness it places on all of the families.
  NIH estimates that approximately 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's 
disease, most of whom are over the age of 60. So there is a good chance 
that you or a friend of yours has a relative suffering from 
Alzheimer's.
  Alzheimer's disease forces families and friends to watch as loved 
ones, once independent and vivacious, suffer personality changes, a 
loss of independence and severe memory loss, such that they view those 
close to them as strangers. As difficult as it is to watch, it is that 
much harder on the patients. Those with Alzheimer's face an 
irreversible process in which they lose many of those things that 
define them as individuals.
  While Alzheimer's can affect people as young as in their 30s, most 
patients are over 60 years old. As this age group doubles over the next 
25 years to around 72 million, the number of people with Alzheimer's 
will also increase dramatically.
  As with other diseases which also affect large numbers of people and 
which cause profound suffering for patients, families and friends, we 
want to do whatever we can to eliminate the diseases or to mitigate 
their impact on people's lives. When Congress reauthorized the NIH in 
2006, Congress decided to put the question of which diseases to fund 
into the hand of experts.
  While it makes the most sense to let experts determine the best use 
of scarce resources for research, Congress still has an important role 
to play in fighting Alzheimer's and other diseases. Specifically, we 
must identify laws and regulations that post barriers to developing new 
treatments and diagnostic tests quickly and safely. Most importantly, 
Congress must ensure that our government is acting efficiently and 
effectively.
  We often hear concerns about a lack of coordination between 
government agencies. The government already devotes substantial 
resources to Alzheimer's through such things as direct care, research 
at the NIH, and the activities of the Administration on Aging. However, 
it is imperative that these agencies coordinate their activities. The 
National Alzheimer's Project Act would ensure that coordination. If 
these agencies have a unified mission with a coordinated strategy, we 
significantly increase the chances of beating this disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 3036.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands (Mrs. Christensen) who has been very much involved with this 
issue and who is also a physician.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Chairman Pallone, for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of S. 3036, the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act.
  Today, the effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating--
devastating to the estimated 5.3 million Americans with the disease to 
their more than 11 million caregivers and to the Nation as a whole, 
because we all share the tremendous cost of contending with 
Alzheimer's. By the middle of the century, as many as 60 million 
Americans could have Alzheimer's disease, putting it on the course of 
being our country's leading public health crisis and the defining 
disease of the baby boomer generation.

                              {time}  1140

  Building on the recommendations of the Alzheimer's Study Group, the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act would create a national strategic plan 
and establish an interagency council to work with the Secretary of HHS 
to comprehensively assess and address Alzheimer's research, care, 
institutional services, and home- and community-based programs. It 
would ensure strategic planning and coordination across the Federal 
Government as a whole.
  Currently, without a coordinated effort, we have no way of evaluating 
outcomes or developing more effective ways to improve those outcomes. 
The National Alzheimer's Project Act addresses this critical gap by 
establishing a national plan which would assess current Federal 
initiatives, evaluate outcomes from these programs, prioritize future 
actions, and set national goals.
  In addition, this legislation will work to reduce the tremendous 
costs associated with Alzheimer's disease. The baby boomers are 
beginning to turn 65. Without the discovery and delivery of effective 
interventions, 10 million of us will develop Alzheimer's, and the lives 
of many millions more will be upended by the emotionally, physically, 
and financially draining toll of caring for us.
  According to the Alzheimer's Association's report, we are currently 
spending $172 billion annually on Alzheimer's and other dementia care 
in America. $88 billion of that is for Medicare alone, which is 17 
percent of the total Medicare budget. Medicare beneficiaries with 
Alzheimer's or another dementia cost the system three times as much as 
a person who does not have dementia. For Medicaid, the cost multiplier 
for someone with dementia is nine times more. The report estimates that 
in the next 40 years, the cost of Alzheimer's and other dementias will 
be in the trillions.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act will help to address these costs 
by establishing an advisory council in which Federal and private 
representatives will work to reduce costs for Federal programs, as well 
as for families, while working to improve national health outcomes.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act also aims to decrease health 
disparities in Alzheimer's. Sixteen percent of women over the age of 70 
have Alzheimer's compared to 11 percent of men, and although under-
diagnosed, African Americans are two times more likely and Hispanic 
Americans 1\1/2\ times more likely to have Alzheimer's or other 
dementias. The National Alzheimer's Project Act will ensure the 
inclusion of those at-risk populations in clinical, research, and 
service efforts.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. S. 3036 makes significant strides in addressing one 
of

[[Page 22097]]

America's most feared, costly, and deadly diseases.
  I congratulate Mr. Markey for his work on this bill and I urge its 
passage.
  I rise in strong support of S. 3036--the National Alzheimer's Project 
Act, which will provide critical federal support and coordination to 
overcome the growing Alzheimer's crisis.
  Today, the effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating--to the 
estimated 5.3 million Americans with the disease, to their more than 11 
million caregivers, and to the nation as a whole as we all share the 
tremendous costs of contending with the Alzheimer crisis. Tomorrow, the 
devastation of Alzheimer's disease will grow far worse. In fact, it is 
on course to be our country's leading public health crisis of the 21st 
century, and the defining disease of the Baby Boom generation. If we 
don't succeed in changing the trajectory of this disease, by the middle 
of the century as many as 16 million Americans could have Alzheimer's.
  Building on the recommendations of the Alzheimer's Study Group, the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act, NAPA, would create a national 
strategic plan for the Alzheimer's disease crisis. It would also 
establish an inter-agency council to work with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to comprehensively assess and address Alzheimer 
research, care, institutional services, and home and community based 
programs. NAPA would ensure strategic planning and coordination of the 
fight against Alzheimer's across the federal government as a whole.
  Currently, without a coordinated effort, it is impossible to 
determine if it has been a good year in the fight against Alzheimer's. 
There are no benchmarks--we have no way of evaluating outcomes, let 
alone a way to improve them.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act addresses this critical gap by 
establishing a national plan. This national plan would assess current 
federal initiatives, evaluate outcomes from these programs, prioritize 
future actions, and assert national goals. With an integrated national 
plan, the government can improve the quality of life and outcomes for 
the millions of Americans--and their families living with Alzheimer's 
disease and other dementias.
  In addition, this legislation will work to reduce the tremendous 
costs associated with Alzheimer's disease. In a few weeks, the first 
Baby Boomer turns 65--Alzheimer cases will begin to mount at an ever-
increasing pace. Without the discovery and delivery of effective 
interventions, 10 million American Baby Boomers will develop 
Alzheimer's disease. And the lives of many millions more will be 
upended by the emotionally, physically and financially draining toll of 
caring for them.
  The economic factors of Alzheimer's rival the human devastation of 
the disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association's report, 
``Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer's Disease: A National 
Imperative,'' we are currently spending $172 billion annually on 
Alzheimer's and other dementia care in America; $88 billion of that is 
for Medicare alone, which is 17 percent of the total Medicare budget. 
Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's or another dementia cost the 
system three times as much as a person who does not have a dementia. 
For Medicaid, the cost multiplier for someone with dementia is nine 
times more. The Trajectory report estimates that during the next 40 
years, the cost of Alzheimer's and other dementias will exceed $20 
trillion.
  Our country is engaged in a collective and very appropriate 
conversation about what should be done to address our current fiscal 
situation. When we look at how we can take costs out of the system 
while improving outcomes, we quickly see that Alzheimer's should be a 
core part of these discussions.
  Fortunately, the National Alzheimer's Project Act will help to 
address these costs. The legislation establishes an Advisory Council 
comprised of federal and private representatives; the Council will work 
to reduce costs for federal programs, as well as families, while 
working to improve national health outcomes.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act also aims to decrease health 
disparities within Alzheimer's. Studies have shown certain populations 
are at greater risk of suffering from this devastating disease. Sixteen 
percent of women over the age of 70 have Alzheimer's compared to 11 
percent of men. African Americans are about two times more likely to 
have Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; however, they are less 
likely to have a diagnosis. The legislation will ensure the inclusion 
of those at risk populations in clinical, research, and service efforts 
which will play a vital role in changing the future of disease.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act makes significant strides in 
addressing one of America's most feared, costly, and deadly diseases. I 
am pleased to support such a critical piece of legislation which will 
improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans affected by 
Alzheimer's disease.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to one of our great 
advocates for families and individuals with Alzheimer's, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished 
friend for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, as cochairman along with my good friend and colleague 
Congressman Ed Markey of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's, 
which we founded back in 1999, and as lead Republican sponsor on the 
companion legislation--this is a Senate bill, of course--I rise in 
strong support and ask for our colleagues to pass the National 
Alzheimer's Project Act.
  This legislation is an important step forward in our battle against 
the crisis of Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, we know that the 
trajectory of Alzheimer's disease over the next few decades threatens 
unparalleled tragedy and threatens to overwhelm society's ability to 
cope if something is not done to change that trajectory.
  Alzheimer's disease is both a current and future health crisis of our 
Nation. About 78 million baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, 
which has been termed the single greatest demographic event in United 
States history. In a couple of weeks on January 1, the first of those 
boomers will turn 65 years of age.
  Today, 5.3 million people have Alzheimer's, and another American 
develops the disease every 70 seconds. 200,000 Americans under the age 
of 65 have early onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's costs Medicare and 
Medicaid alone approximately $122 billion. The average annual Medicare 
payment for an individual with Alzheimer's, as the previous speaker 
pointed out, is three times higher than for those without the 
condition. Additionally, 11 million unpaid caregivers provide 12.5 
billion hours of care, valued at an estimated $144 billion. This unpaid 
care obviously is a huge drain on family resources.
  Without effective intervention to change the trajectory, by mid-
century, the number of individuals with Alzheimer's will increase to an 
estimated 13 million to 16 million people, and the cost to Medicare and 
Medicaid will be staggering, over $800 billion in today's dollars. 
Given these realities, it is astounding that there is no national plan 
to address the crisis of Alzheimer's disease and the looming crisis.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act is designed to help turn the 
tide by creating a national strategic plan to address it. NAPA 
establishes an interagency advisory council to advise the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services on how to comprehensively address the 
government's efforts on Alzheimer's research, care, and service, 
including both institutional and at-home care.
  As a percentage of the population, more women than men have 
Alzheimer's, and African Americans are about two times more likely to 
have Alzheimer's or other dementias, yet they are less likely to be 
diagnosed. NAPA aims to address these disparities as well.
  NAPA will provide the framework to accelerate the development of an 
efficacious care and comprehensive treatment in an effort to mitigate 
the unspeakable agony and suffering of millions of patients and their 
families. And if we are successful, we will also save the country 
billions of dollars every year and trillions over the coming decades.
  This is an outstanding bill, and I hope the membership of this body 
will overwhelmingly support it.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).
  Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, there are currently 5.3 million Americans with 
Alzheimer's, and the prevalence of the disease is expected to increase 
rapidly as the baby boomer generation, my generation, begins to age.
  As a degenerative disease that affects memory and other cognitive 
functioning, Alzheimer's can be very frustrating, both for the person 
afflicted and for family, friends, and caretakers.

[[Page 22098]]

Far too many of us have lost a loved one because of this disease.
  It is time we find a cure for Alzheimer's. This bill is an extremely 
important contribution to the search for that cure. It will establish a 
coordinated national and international effort and accelerate research 
and development efforts for new treatments to prevent, stop, or reverse 
the course of Alzheimer's disease. The information these efforts 
provide will, in turn, inform priorities for future work to end this 
disease.
  I wholeheartedly support what is clearly a bipartisan bill, and I 
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.
  Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, Thank you, Chairman 
Waxman, Chairman Pallone, Representative Burgess, and Ranking Member 
Barton.
  I'd like to thank Senators Bayh and Collins for their leadership on 
this bill, the Senate companion to H.R. 4689 which I introduced with my 
friend and cochair of the Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, 
Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey.
  The poet Robert Browning once wrote, ``Grow old with me, the best is 
yet to be.''
  Unfortunately, the ``Golden Years'' can be the worst years for 
Americans afflicted with Alzheimer's and their families.
  We've worked with the Senate to engage in a bipartisan, constructive 
process with stakeholders to reach legislative language and move this 
bill forward.
  After all, Alzheimer's is an equal-opportunity disease. My father was 
a milkman, my mother the valedictorian. My father always said it was an 
honor that my mother married him and that if Alzheimer's was determined 
by the strength of your brain, ``Your mother would be taking care of me 
instead.'' He took care of her in our living room in Malden, 
Massachusetts for 10 years as she suffered from Alzheimer's. I'm 
thinking of them both today.
  Alois Alzheimer first discovered the plaques and tangles in the brain 
that cause Alzheimer's in 1906--within the very same year that my 
mother was born.
  At the time, doctors believed that dementia in the elderly was a 
normal part of the aging process that was caused by the hardening of 
the arteries.
  However, Alzheimer's groundbreaking work was done on a patient who 
was only 51 years old. So Alzheimer reached the conclusion that the 
condition he had discovered was a kind of ``pre-senile dementia,'' and 
that the pattern of plaques and tangles he had identified was a rare 
condition that afflicted only the young.
  Years passed, my mother grew up, and researchers did little to study 
and learn about the plaques and tangles that were forming in her brain.
  It wasn't until the mid-1970s that it became clear that the most 
common form of dementia in older people was caused by the same plaques 
and tangles that Alzheimer had identified decades earlier.
  Unfortunately, the search for the cure had begun too late for my 
mother who was diagnosed in 1981--75 years after Alzheimer had 
discovered the disease that lead to her death.
  Alzheimer's patients are the mothers and fathers, and sisters and 
brothers who we recognize even if they don't recognize us; who we 
remember even if they don't remember us, and who we continue to love 
and cherish even as their condition worsens.
  A few stats: 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's; it is the 7th 
leading cause of death; $172 billion is spent annually for Alzheimer's.
  Our challenge is to ensure that we increase not only the lifespan, 
but also the health span of Americans, so that the 30 bonus years of 
life we gained in the 20th century--and hopefully will continue to gain 
in the 21st--are truly better years of life.
  The Alzheimer's community has been waiting for help, and trying to 
maintain hope.
  Today the House can take action to help and give hope to Alzheimer's 
families.
  The bill we are considering today will help coordinate Alzheimer's 
research, care, and services across all Federal agencies.
  The United States is one of the only developed nations without a 
national plan to combat Alzheimer's. For too long, we've been unarmed 
against this disease.
  Through this plan, will be developed: An assessment of all Alzheimer-
related Federal efforts; recommendations; annual updates; and a strong 
advisory committee.
  This bill will: Help coordinate the health care and treatment of 
citizens with Alzheimer's; it will accelerate the development of 
treatments that would prevent, halt or reverse the course of 
Alzheimer's by coordinating existing government resources; and it will 
ensure the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations at higher risk 
for Alzheimer's and reduce health disparities among people with 
Alzheimer's.
  Thank yous: The Alzheimer's Association--Harry Johns, Rob Egge, Mary 
Richards, Katie Maslow, Matthew Baumgart; Maria Shriver for all of her 
great work; The Alzheimer's Foundation of America--Eric Hall, Sue 
Peschin; Cure Alzheimer's Fund--Tim Armour, Dr. Rudy Tanzi; The 
National Institute on Aging--Dr. Richard Hodes, Tamara Jones; Keep 
Memory Alive--Maureen Peckman, George and Trish Vradenburg, Patience 
O'Connor, Meryl Comer, Jillian Oberfield, Mark Bayer, Kate Bazinsky, 
Josh Lumbley, Amit Mistry, and Binta Beard from my office; Tim Lynagh 
from Representative Chris Smith's office; Emily Gibbons, Sarah Despres 
from the Energy and Commerce Committee Majority Staff; Ryan Long and 
Clay Alspach from Mr. Barton's staff; J.P. Paluskiewicz from Dr. 
Burgess's Office; Sarah Kyle and Kevin Kaiser from Senator Bayh's 
Office.
  Thank you to the many hard-working advocates for this disease, and 
those who are caretakers, bearing many burdens day in and day out.
  I once again thank my colleagues for their support--Waxman, Pallone, 
Burgess, and Barton.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I offer the following 
statement in support of Senate Bill 3036, expressing support for the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act.
  The effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating. An estimated 5.3 
million Americans live with this disease, and millions more are 
directly affected through caring for loved ones and sharing the 
surmounting costs of this terrible disease.
  Unfortunately, the devastation of Alzheimer's disease will only 
become worse as the Baby Boom generation grows older. It is estimated 
that if we are unable to change the trajectory of this disease, as many 
as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by the middle of this 
century.
  The economic impact of Alzheimer's is also staggering. We are 
currently spending an estimated $172 billion annually on Alzheimer's 
disease and other dementia care in America. As the nation faces a 
growing aging population, we must look at how to reduce costs while 
improving outcomes. The National Alzheimer's Project Act will help 
achieve this goal through the establishment of the Advisory Council on 
Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services, which facilitates public and 
private coordination on research and services across all federal 
agencies.
  As my mother is currently suffering from the advanced stages of 
Alzheimer's disease, I would welcome news of a research breakthrough 
that would slow, stop, or reverse this degenerative disease.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act is an important step toward 
addressing a devastating and deadly disease. I am pleased to support 
legislation that will help improve the quality of life for the millions 
of Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease.
  Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act--a bill whose passage will mark the 
first coordinated and concentrated effort by the Federal Government to 
meet the challenges posed by Alzheimer's disease.
  And, those challenges are many. There's the toll it takes on the 
physical health of the 5.3 million Americans living with the disease, 
the toll it takes on the emotional well-being of the 11 million people 
caring for those with the disease, and the increasingly great toll it 
takes on the finances of the federal budget. The disease takes and 
takes. But, with the National Alzheimer's Project Act, we can finally 
fight back.
  The need to do so could not be any clearer.
  In 2010, Medicare and Medicaid spent $122 billion caring for people 
with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Without action, the 
annual cost to those two programs alone from Alzheimer's disease will 
reach $805 billion in 2050. But, we are not destined to increase the 
Medicare and Medicaid costs of this disease almost sevenfold.
  In fact, we know that a therapeutic intervention that delays the 
onset of Alzheimer's by five years would cut nearly in half the 
projected Medicare cost of the disease over the same time period.
  To reach that future where the number of Americans with the disease 
does not rise unabated and the costs spiral out of control we will need 
to marshal all of our resources. With this bill, we assign a field 
general.
  The bill establishes the National Alzheimer's Project within the 
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the 
early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, to coordinate research across 
all Federal agencies, and to accelerate the development of treatments 
that would prevent, halt, or reverse the advancement of the disease.
  The creation of a strategic plan not only provides a vision for 
fighting Alzheimer's, but also

[[Page 22099]]

mandates the creation of benchmarks to measure our progress in that 
fight. Today, we have no way of evaluating outcomes, let alone a way to 
improve them.
  I am pleased to support such a critical piece of legislation which 
will improve the lives of the millions of Americans living with the 
disease and the millions of Americans caring for them.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ. of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
support S. 3036, the National Alzheimer's Project Act. This bill would 
provide critical federal support and coordination to overcome the 
growing Alzheimer's crisis.
  Today, the effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating. An 
estimated 5.3 million people are living with the disease. We must act 
decisively, or the devastation of Alzheimer's disease will grow far 
worse. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the 
United States, and is the fastest growing of the 10 leading causes of 
death. In 2010, Medicare and Medicaid will spend $122 billion caring 
for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
  The National Alzheimer's Project Act would establish an inter-agency 
advisory council to address the government's efforts on Alzheimer's 
research, care, institutional services, and home and community-based 
programs. It would also increase awareness, support, and outreach for 
those confronted with Alzheimer's disease and for their families to 
help better equip our nation to face this disease.
  To decrease health disparities, this bill will work to ensure the 
inclusion of ethnic and racial populations who are at higher risk for 
Alzheimer's or who are less likely to receive care in clinical, 
research, and service programs.
  Legislation that advances a cure for Alzheimer's disease is near and 
dear to my heart because of my father and the millions of others like 
him who live every day with this disease.
  I urge my colleagues to support such a critical piece of legislation. 
It's a monumental step forward in our battle against Alzheimer's and 
other dementias.
  Mr. TERRY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of S. 3036, and I also 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 3036.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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