Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Alzheimer’s Task Force, today joined Paul Tonko (D-NY) in reintroducing a package of bipartisan legislation aimed at bolstering federal support for combating Alzheimer’s disease.
The comprehensive legislative package includes the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act—which ensures a direct funding mechanism for researchers to effectively treat Alzheimer’s—and the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the National Alzheimer’s Project through 2035 to provide a plan for federal efforts to combat Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Smith was the House co-author of the 2011 law that first created the national plan, which marked a historic commitment by the federal government to tackle the disease.
“With 6.5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s, there is an enormous, immediate need for more federal resources and programs to prevent, treat and ultimately find a cure for this devastating disease,” said Rep. Smith. “While real progress has been made and new therapies are advancing to help patients and caregivers, we cannot let up in the fight for improved treatments and a potential cure for Alzheimer's.”
“Congress must step up its efforts to combat this disease and advance this legislation now to help the millions of Americans coping with Alzheimer’s,” Smith said.
“More than a decade ago, Congress took action to establish a federal plan to address Alzheimer's and dementia, but those essential federal programs to soon set to expire,” said Rep. Tonko. “Congress can and must work to secure these programs for the millions of Americans living with this devastating disease. I urge my colleagues to join in support of our bipartisan legislation and provide a path forward for the scientists and researchers working to face this disease and provide hope to Alzheimer's patients and their families.”
“Thanks to the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), we’ve made tremendous progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer's Association chief public policy officer and AIM executive director. “But more work remains. The passage of the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act is the next step to continue the critical work of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and ensure that the nation renews its commitment to addressing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
“On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association and AIM, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the bipartisan sponsors for introducing this important legislation to help improve the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s throughout the country,” said Egge. “The Alzheimer’s Association and AIM look forward to working with our tireless advocates and congressional champions to advance this bipartisan legislation.”
The package of legislation introduced by Smith and Tonko will build on past investments to ensure the federal government remains on track toward its plan to prevent, treat and ultimately find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act would expand the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act that was signed into law in 2015 by permanently requiring scientists at the National Institutes of Health to submit an annual Alzheimer’s research budget proposal directly to Congress, ensuring a direct funding mechanism to combat Alzheimer’s.
The NAPA Reauthorization Act would extend the national strategic plan addressing Alzheimer’s that is set to expire in 2025 and include: language to address health disparities among underrepresented populations; language adding a sixth goal to the plan on healthy aging and reducing risk factors for dementia; and the addition of new federal representatives to the Advisory Council including from the Department of Justice, the Social Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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