Reps. Maxine Waters & Chris Smith Urge Robust Funding for Alzheimer’s Programs
Reps. Maxine Waters & Chris Smith Urge Robust Funding for Alzheimer's Programs
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, sent a letter to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK-4), the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education Appropriations, urging them to support robust funding for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act and Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health. The letter requests that these two programs be funded at the levels included in the Senate's draft FY 2020 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill, which are higher than the levels included in the House-passed bill.
"Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and it has a profound impact upon millions of Americans and their families. There is no effective treatment, no means of prevention, and no method for slowing the progression of the disease," wrote Congresswoman Waters and Congressman Smith. "The Senate provided a $350 million increase in funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a total appropriation of $2.818 billion in FY 2020 for Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)….The Senate also provided $10 million for the implementation of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (P.L. 115-406) in FY 2020, which was passed by Congress last year with strong bipartisan support….We therefore urge you to accede to the Senate's proposed funding levels for these two critical accounts and provide at least $10 million for the BOLD Act and a total of $2.818 billion for Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) in FY 2020."
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole,
As the Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, we appreciate your commitment to Alzheimer's programs, and we write in support of the funding levels included in the Senate's draft FY 2020 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill for two critical Alzheimer's accounts. Specifically, we respectfully request that you include in the final FY 2020 bill at least $10 million for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act and a $350 million increase for Alzheimer's research above the FY 2019 level.
Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and it has a profound impact upon millions of Americans and their families. There is no effective treatment, no means of prevention, and no method for slowing the progression of the disease. An estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer's in 2019. This number includes approximately 5.6 million people age 65 and older and an additional 200,000 people under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's may grow to a projected 13.8 million, in the absence of medical breakthroughs that would prevent, slow or cure the disease.
The Senate provided a $350 million increase in funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a total appropriation of $2.818 billion in FY 2020 for Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Robust funding for research is essential if we are to change the trajectory of this tragic disease.
The Senate also provided $10 million for the implementation of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (P.L. 115-406) in FY 2020, which was passed by Congress last year with strong bipartisan support. This innovative law authorized $100 million over five years for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build a robust public health infrastructure for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The BOLD Act establishes Alzheimer's Centers of Excellence around the country to expand and promote effective Alzheimer's interventions, which will support early detection, reduce the risk of hospitalizations and cognitive decline, support caregivers, and reduce health disparities.
We therefore urge you to accede to the Senate's proposed funding levels for these two critical accounts and provide at least $10 million for the BOLD Act and a total of $2.818 billion for Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) in FY 2020. We thank you for your attention to our concerns, and we look forward to working with you to confront the challenges of Alzheimer's disease.
Sincerely,
Maxine Waters
Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
Chris Smith
Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
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