Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. 2365 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
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Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill.
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Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, a few moments ago, the Senate unanimously passed the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, a bill that for the first time marshals Agencies across the government to tackle this disease--this awful disease--in a comprehensive way.

I thank Senators Murphy and Capito and everyone who championed this bill. Parkinson's is truly a terrible illness. It has taken an awful toll on my own family. My mom suffers from this disease. It is very hard on us. I know Parkinson's has affected the families of others in this Chamber as well as over a million Americans in this country.

This bill, for the first time, will unite the government in an effort to find a cure for this disease once and for all by promoting better Parkinson's research, encourage more effective treatments and other measures. With this bill, we are taking one step closer to bringing this awful disease to an end, and I thank everyone who made it possible.

I also, in particular, wish to thank Representative Jennifer Wexton, of Virginia, who spent months championing this bill even after being diagnosed with a particularly rare form of Parkinson's. She is an inspiration. While many would have been discouraged and lost hope with a disease like this, she has endured. She has used her struggle to help others. Now the bill goes to the President's desk.

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