Approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease every year. Many more folks go undiagnosed because the symptoms during the early stages are similar to signs of the normal aging process.

Congress has placed a high priority on funding medical research. The Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program (NETRP) is vital to investigating the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases like Parkinson's. Not only does this Department of Defense program help our service members, but the breakthroughs can be applied to civilians who face the same diseases.

In addition, Congress has succeeded in doubling the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the last few years. This is quite an achievement and a significant step toward providing cutting edge treatments for victims of all diseases. Last year's spending bill included $1.5 billion for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which is part of the NIH and does research for Parkinson's disease.

I stand as a strong advocate for Parkinson's research. As a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, which makes funding decisions, I will carefully consider the needs of all federal programs while bringing federal spending under control.