Two bipartisan Alzheimer’s bills signed into law as nearly 7 million Americans battle the disease
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
This month President Joe Biden signed two pieces of bipartisan legislation into law which aim to aid the fight against Alzheimer's Disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association nearly 7 million people across the U.S. are battling the disease and this number is only expected to grow.
NAPA Reauthorization Act
The NAPA Reauthorization Act (S. 133) is a reauthorization of The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) which created and maintains a national plan to fight Alzheimer's Disease, provides information and coordination of research across federal agencies, and helps accelerate treatments and preventions for the disease among other items. NAPA was passed by Congress in 2010 and signed into law in 2011.
Senate Bill 133 reauthorizes this mission for the country since NAPA is set to expire in 2025. The reauthorization will extend the plan through 2035.
In addition to the reauthorization of NAPA, the Alzheimer's Association says Senate Bill 133 adds new federal representatives to the NAPA Advisory Council from the Department of Justice, Social Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It also requires the national plan include recommendations on reducing disparities in underrepresented populations and includes efforts to promote healthy aging.
"Approaching Alzheimer’s Disease should not be a partisan issue," Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) told ABC 17. "I am proud to support the NAPA Reauthorization Act and will continue to work on behalf of Missourians who are battling Alzheimer’s. I would encourage Missourians to continue to reach out to me and my office so I can better serve the needs of those with Alzheimer’s while I’m here in the Senate."
Schmitt was the sole Missouri lawmaker on the bill with a total of 44 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle.
Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act
The Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act (S. 134) maintains the Alzheimer's Bypass Budget process which requires scientists at the National Institutes of Health to create and submit a yearly budget for Alzheimer's research directly to Congress. This bypasses usual budget procedures.
The Alzheimer's Association says in 2023, caring for people with Alzheimer's Disease cost Medicare and Medicaid around $222 billion dollars. These costs are estimated to increase to $644 billion dollars in 2050. The association says the goal is to get in front of research sooner, to decrease costs in the long run.
“It is critical that we take care of those closest to us, those who have raised us, and those who have inspired generations to come," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told ABC 17. "We must continue the important work of finding treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s to better the lives of Americans afflicted by this terrible disease.”
Hawley was the sole Missouri lawmaker on the bill with a total of 41 co-sponsors.
Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM)
The Alzheimer's Impact Movement is an advocacy affiliate of the Alzheimer's Association and says it works to develop and advance policies to overcome Alzheimer's and other dementia through research, care and support. AIM works at the state and federal level with lawmakers and elected officials to advance policy which supports the mission of a world without Alzheimer's Disease.
"AIM is everything legislative," Alzheimer's Association Senior Fundraising Manager Laurie Williams said. "We have staff members and volunteer members and they are just go-getters. They're out trying to get legislation to help with the research and funding for everything."
According to the Alzheimer's Association, AIM has helped secure a 'seven-fold' increase in Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at NIH in the last decade.
Join ABC 17 in the fight against Alzheimer's and support the Jefferson City Walk to End Alzheimer's on Oct. 13 at the Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater.
