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House Passes Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act |
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WASHINGTON (15 Oct.) -- The
Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) was passed today
by the House of Representatives on a voice vote. The bill, authored by
Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono (R-CA) and Congressmen
Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) will improve the lives of
and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis.
"Passage
of this legislation today is extremely gratifying," said Congresswoman
Baldwin. "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. Chris and Dana used their visibility
to work on behalf of families in all parts of the country who face the
challenges of paralysis and impaired mobility. This legislation,
passing just days after the third anniversary of Christopher Reeve's
death, is part of their legacy," Baldwin said.
"The
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is extremely grateful to
Representatives Tammy Baldwin, Mary Bono, James Langevin and Gus
Bilirakis for sponsoring and spearheading this landmark legislation in
Christopher and Dana Reeve's names," said Peter Wilderotter, President,
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. "Improvements are made every
day in spinal cord injury research, but the Christopher and Dana Reeve
Paralysis Act will help to quickly and efficiently stimulate even more
progress. We at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation also applaud
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner for moving
quickly to pass this historic Act," Wilderotter said.
The
legislation, named for the actor who was paralyzed in a riding accident
and his wife who turned adversity into activism, seeks to avert
redundancies and encourage collaborative research in paralysis and
improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis and
mobility impairments from any cause -- stroke, ALS, spinal cord
injuries, and others.
(more)
"I am very pleased that the
House has passed this important legislation that, in addition to
addressing a serious issue, honors the memory of my friend, the late
Dana Reeve, and also her late husband, Christopher. Both Dana and
Christopher have been an inspiration to us all, and this legislation
will instill hope in the many individuals and families dealing with the
challenges of paralysis and mobility impairment," said Congresswoman
Bono.
"I
want to especially thank Reps. Baldwin, Bilirakis, and Langevin for
their bipartisan efforts to move this legislation forward; it has been
a pleasure to work with each of them," Bono said.
"I
commend all those who worked so tirelessly to pass this bill that 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 Congressman Langevin, who is the
only spinal cord injured Member of Congress. "On a personal note, Chris
and Dana were dear friends and it is now up to all of us to move
forward and continue their legacy by implementing this legislation,"
Langevin said.
"I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of
this bill, which will encourage collaborative research in paralysis and
hasten the discovery of treatments and potential cures to improve the
lives of people with paralysis," said Congressman Bilirakis, who
offered a bill with similar language earlier this year. "Chris and Dana
Reeve pushed to the national forefront the issue of the need for better
research into paralysis and greater emphasis on rehabilitation. Today's
passage of H.R. 1727 is the culmination of their work, and the work of
others pushing for greater awareness and action on this issue,"
Bilirakis 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.
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