Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - March 12, 2009)

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By Mrs. MURRAY:

S. 586. A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a National Neurotechnology Initative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce legislation that would make a tremendous difference in the lives of the millions of Americans suffering from neurological illnesses, injuries, or disorders.

An estimated one in three Americans suffers from some kind of neurological condition, from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's to multiple sclerosis. An increasing number of our troops and veterans suffer from disorders such as Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD.

Yet, despite this, we still have only a limited understanding of how the brain works, or how best to treat, diagnose, and cure neurological diseases and conditions. It is taking a terrible toll on our families and communities.

I know from experience how devastating these brain injuries and disorders are for victims and their families. My own father developed MS when I was young, and when he became too sick to work, my family had to rely on food stamps for a time just to get by.

Every day, we hear heart-wrenching stories of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from TBI and PTSD. Veterans with these disorders are more likely to struggle with joblessness, homelessness, substance abuse, and depression. Many are in pain, desperate for help, but unsure where to find it. And, tragically, an increasing number are taking their own lives as a result.

A recent study by the Institute of Medicine, IOM, found that the long-term health consequences of TBI alone include dementia, Parkinson's-like symptoms, seizures, and problems related to socialization and unemployment. Clearly, TBI and related disorders will affect our servicemembers and veterans far into the future, and we owe it to them to develop better treatments and understanding of these injuries and disorders.

The Neurotechnology Initiative Act of 2009, which I am introducing today, would coordinate our efforts to support new developments in research, speed up our understanding of the human brain, and help lead to treatments for all victims of neurological disorders.

The legislation would make needed improvements to the research system in our country, which now is disjointed, often limiting the ability for life-altering research to reach patients in need. For example, it costs nearly $100 million more--and takes 2 years longer than average--to bring a drug that treats a neurological disease to the market. The combined economic burden of these illnesses and disorders is estimated at $1 trillion annually.

The National Neurotechnology Initiative Act would increase funding to the National Institutes of Health, NIH; help remove bottlenecks in the system to speed up research; coordinate neurological research across federal agencies by creating a blueprint for neuroscience at NIH; and streamline the FDA approval process for life-changing neurological drugs--without sacrificing safety.

The act also has economic benefits. It will help create jobs in the emerging field of neurotechnology. By developing better treatments, we can reduce health care costs for everyone.

This research also has the potential to transform highly specialized areas of medicine, computing, and defense. Most importantly, it could save or improve the lives of millions of Americans.

I am proud that this bill has support in the House, and I look forward to working on it with my colleagues here in the Senate.

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