Napa Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 133, the NAPA Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the National Alzheimer's Project Act through 2035.

In 2011, our Nation made addressing Alzheimer's disease a priority when we passed the National Alzheimer's Project Act. This law called for a national plan to accelerate research and improve care and services to those living with Alzheimer's. Since the establishment of the national plan, we have made enormous strides in strategy implementation to address Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. The national plan has also allowed us to make progress in Alzheimer's research, care and services, and public awareness about the disease.

S. 133 will build on the progress we have made through the national plan by reauthorizing the law through fiscal year 2035. The bill will also allow the national plan to address healthy aging and risk reduction issues related to Alzheimer's disease.

This reauthorization will build on the progress brought forward by NAPA and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to continue long-term planning for a strategic approach to addressing Alzheimer's and other dementia.

This bill is the Senate counterpart of legislation led by Representative Tonko, who shepherded this bipartisan reauthorization through the Energy and Commerce Committee this past spring. Since the beginning of his time in Congress, Representative Tonko has led the push to address Alzheimer's and related dementia, and I thank him for his continued leadership.

I also thank my colleague from New Jersey, Representative Smith, who is the Republican sponsor.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 133 so we can continue our commitment to combat Alzheimer's disease.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of us to support this bill on a bipartisan basis. Whatever we can do to fight Alzheimer's is very important.

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