Cassidy, Murphy, Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Improve Neurological Health Research

Press Release

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today introduced legislation to reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS) program, which collects data which collects privacy-protected data on neurological conditions to inform research and help advance better treatments and cures.

Specifically, the legislation would reauthorize the NNCSS for another five years and increase funding to $10 million starting in FY23 and up to $20 million by FY26. Reauthorization would allow the program to complete its current work on Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's and expand to other neurological conditions.

"Hope for cures comes through advances in knowledge. Let's create that hope," said Dr. Cassidy. "This bill supports research into treatments and cures while protecting patients' privacy."

"The NNCSS is a critical program that helps us better understand neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease, which each impact more than a million Americans and their families. Their research is key to developing more effective treatments and ultimately finding a cure for these horrific diseases. We must continue to support their lifesaving work," said Senator Murphy.

"For Americans living with neurological conditions, like Parkinson's and MS, good data holds the key to advancing innovative treatments and cures. That's why it's crucial that we fully fund the NNCSS program for another five years to expand data collection and research capabilities. This legislation will help millions of patients -- and families -- who are impacted by these conditions each year, as we seek to strengthen our responses to and treatments available for neurological conditions," said Senator Van Hollen.

Source