Rep. Waters Applauds the Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act
Rep. Waters Applauds the Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act
WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), the Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, applauded the passage of S. 2076, the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act. The bill passed the House of Representatives on December 19th by an overwhelming vote of 361 to 3, after passing the Senate by a voice vote on December 12th, and is expected to be signed into law.
"I am delighted that Congress passed the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act. We introduced this innovative bill to promote early detection and diagnosis, support caregivers, and reduce health disparities related to the care and treatment of Alzheimer's patients. The passage of this bill marks a historic victory in the fight against Alzheimer's. I will continue to advocate for this and other legislative efforts that improve the lives of the more than 5 million Americans who are living with this devastating disease," said Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
As a congressional leader of Alzheimer's disease response efforts, Congresswoman Maxine Waters joined together with her colleagues, Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4), to introduce the House version of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (H.R. 4256), while the Senate version (S. 2076) was introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The bill establishes Alzheimer's Centers of Excellence around the country to expand and promote innovative and effective Alzheimer's interventions, which will support early detection, reduce the risk of hospitalizations and cognitive decline, support caregivers, and reduce health disparities. The bill is a priority of Alzheimer's advocates in the 115th Congress.
"We are thankful to Rep. Waters for her continued, steadfast work to address Alzheimer's for millions of Californians and other Americans," said Alzheimer's Association Chief Public Policy Officer, Robert Egge. "When signed into law, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will build and strengthen our nation's Alzheimer's public health response resulting in improved outcomes and quality of life for millions of Americans."
Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million Americans, and it is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. There is no effective treatment, no means of prevention, and no method for slowing the progression of the disease. Most Alzheimer's patients require constant care and attention, especially when they are in the final stages of the disease. The Alzheimer's Association calculated that caregivers provided more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care for people with dementia in 2016, at an estimated value of over $230 billion.
"As the Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I know how devastating this disease can be for patients, families, and caregivers. I applaud the passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, which will improve diagnosis, care and treatment for Alzheimer's patients and provide critical support to caregivers," said Congresswoman Waters.