Michael J. Fox Foundation Applauds Passage of National Plan to End Parkinson's Act in Congress

National Plan to End Parkinson's Act passes in Congress, creating federal advisory council dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) is excited to announce the passing of The National Plan to End Parkinson's Act in the U.S. Senate. This groundbreaking legislation, the first of its kind, is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. The bill, which was previously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, will now be sent to President Biden for final approval.

The passage of this bill was made possible by bipartisan support and the hard work of advocates, scientists, patients, families, clinicians, caregivers, and legislators. Lead sponsors Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Chris Murphy, along with Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Paul Tonko, played a crucial role in championing this legislation. With the establishment of a federal advisory council, experts from both the public and private sectors will collaborate to develop and implement a national plan to combat Parkinson's disease.

This historic legislation aims to increase federal research funding, improve treatments and cures, enhance early diagnosis, create better patient care models, establish prevention standards, address health disparities, and raise public awareness about Parkinson's disease. Modeled after the successful National Alzheimer's Project Act, this bill has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach Parkinson's research and care.

Parkinson's disease is a prevalent and rapidly growing neurological condition, affecting over 1 million Americans, including many U.S. military veterans. The economic burden of Parkinson's amounts to $52 billion annually, with the federal government covering half of these costs. The recent discovery of a Parkinson's biomarker through the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative offers hope for improved care and treatments for those living with the disease.

As the leading nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is committed to accelerating progress towards a cure and better therapies for individuals with Parkinson's. Through research funding, global engagement, clinical studies, advocacy efforts, and grassroots involvement, the Foundation is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the fight against Parkinson's disease. For more information on the Foundation's work, visit www.michaeljfox.org.

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