(Warwick, R.I.) - Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) today celebrated House passage of their legislation to improve the lives of and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act was included in the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act passed today in the House and recently by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

“We honor the activism of Christopher and Dana Reeve with this bipartisan effort to better treat and, we hope, cure paralysis and other serious motor impairments,” said Congresswoman Baldwin.  “This legislation, in tandem with renewed federal support for stem cell research and health care reform could lead to breakthrough treatments and cures for the millions of Americans who face the daily challenges of paralysis and impaired mobility,” Baldwin said.

“I am proud to have joined my colleagues in advancing the worthy cause begun by Christopher and Dana Reeve that will bring hope and healing to people living with paralysis and other mobility impairments,” said Bono Mack.  “Passing this bill today is an important step to help coordinate national research efforts, pave the way to finding  better treatments and cures and improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis.  It is great news that this important legislation is now on its way to the President’s desk,” Bono Mack said. 

“Passage of this bill has been a long time in coming, but worth the wait because it will help people with disabilities achieve and maintain their independence and ensure that we are using the best research and technology to help improve their quality of life,” said Langevin, who is the only spinal cord injured Member of Congress. “We are living in exciting times for health care innovation and medical research, and I am positive that we will have many more accomplishments to celebrate. On a personal note, Chris and Dana were dear friends, and it is now up to all of us to continue their legacy by finding better treatments and eventual cures,” Langevin said.

“I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of the Christopher and Dana Reeve paralysis Act,” said Bilirakis. “Unfortunately, millions of Americans suffer from paralysis and mobility impairment. This bill will encourage collaborative research in paralysis and hasten the discovery of treatments and potential cures to improve the lives of people with paralysis,” Bilirakis said.

“This is very welcome news,” said Peter T. Wilderotter, President and CEO, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.  “The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is extremely grateful to Representatives Tammy Baldwin, Mary Bono Mack, Jim Langevin and Gus Bilirakis for championing this important legislation in Christopher and Dana’s honor. Advancements are made every day in spinal cord injury research, but enacting the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act will help to quickly and efficiently stimulate even more progress,” Wilderotter said.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act has three components that support and enhance paralysis research, rehabilitation, and quality of life programs:

• Paralysis Research - Expands research on paralysis at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This will encourage collaborative research by connecting scientists conducting similar work to further enhance understanding and speed discovery of better treatments and cures.

• Paralysis Rehabilitation and Care - Builds on research to enhance daily function for people with paralysis including a Clinical Trials Network to measure effectiveness of certain rehabilitation tactics and encouraging shared findings on paralysis to improve rehabilitation.

• Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis and Other Physical Disabilities - Works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the quality of life and long-term health status of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities.   

-30-