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National Plan to End Parkinson’s

Congress Passes the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, Now What?

May 31, 2024

PD Avenger's cofounder Larry Gifford talks with Dustin Watson, Director of Gov't Relations for The Michael J. Fox Foundation and UPAC (which represents dozens of Parkinson's organizations including the PD Avengers). As we await the President's signature -- we take the opportunity to look at what the next 24 months should like in terms of this bill and what it means for the Parkinson's community.


Congress Passes the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act

May 24, 2024

On May 23, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, marking a historic milestone as the first-ever federal legislation dedicated to ending Parkinson’s disease (PD). This groundbreaking bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law, having previously received overwhelming bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives in December.

“This is truly monumental. Congratulations to all involved,” said PD Avengers President Larry Gifford. “On behalf of the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease, I’d like to thank the tireless advocates who never gave up and the members of the United States Congress for joining the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Unified Parkinson's Advocacy Council, and the greater PD community in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.”

This landmark bill has the potential to revolutionize the lives of the one million Americans living with Parkinson’s. It is designed to:

  • Dramatically increase federal research funding

  • Develop more effective pathways for treatments and cures

  • Improve early diagnosis

  • Spark new and improved models for patient care

  • Create standards and measures to prevent Parkinson’s disease

  • Address health disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical trial participation

  • Enhance public awareness of the disease

The passing of this act represents a giant leap forward in the battle against Parkinson’s, bringing hope and concrete action to those affected by the disease.

Timeline at a Glance:

  • On May 23, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act (S.1064/H.R.8585), the first-ever federal legislation dedicated to ending Parkinson’s.

  • On December 14, 2023, the Act passed through the U.S. House of Representatives.

  • On March 29, 2023, the Act was reintroduced in the House and Senate for the 2023 session.

What’s Next?

Once President Biden signs the bill into law, the Federal government will begin to establish actionable steps to carry out the plan. The PD Avengers looks forward to working alongside the Michael J. Fox Foundation, UPAC and other leaders in the PD space to help throughout this process.

Content provided by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).