Steve Gleason Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. SCALISE. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding and for his leadership in bringing the Steve Gleason Act to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, Steve Gleason is somebody who has
served as an inspiration for the people of Louisiana for a long time, going back, of course, to the 2006 game when the Superdome was reopened after Hurricane Katrina.
That night was really one of the galvanizing moments that helped bring the city of New Orleans back, that helped reinspire the people of New Orleans to come back.
It was Steve Gleason who blocked the punt at the end of the game to win the game. I was in the Dome that night. I know my wife, Jennifer, and I were as euphoric as everybody in that building.
The reason that Steve Gleason inspires people today, Mr. Speaker, is not because of what he did on the football field. It is because of what he has done to serve as an inspiration for people all across the country, people with all disabilities, since he was diagnosed with ALS, with Lou Gehrig's Disease.
What he has done is to go out and show that he is able to exhibit his voice because of the speech-generating device that he has.
This isn't something that he just wants for himself. He wants this for all people who have something to say, who have that same voice, to be able to go out and inspire other people.
When CMS made the change in policy that started to take away that voice, he spoke up, as so many others did, and said, ``We need to reverse this.''
I commend Senator Vitter for bringing the legislation forward that we are debating that was passed through the Senate, for this is a bill that truly will give voice to thousands of people.
Over 5,000 people every year are diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease, with ALS. They all have something to say. They all have that voice.
The Steve Gleason Act will give them that voice so they can go out and continue to achieve their lives' potential.
I urge the passage of this legislation.
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