Charleston Leader

The Senate has passed the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, a bill that was introduced by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), along with U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). The House of Representatives had approved the bill in December 2023. The legislation now awaits the president's signature.

The bill was renamed in the House to honor Representative Bilirakis’ brother, Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis, who died in May 2023 after battling Parkinson’s disease, and Representative Jennifer Wexton, who is fighting Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and contributed to the bill’s passage.

This legislation aims to unite federal efforts to cure and prevent Parkinson’s disease, reduce financial and health burdens on American families, and lower government spending over time. Parkinson’s disease is noted as the second most common – and fastest-growing – neurological disorder globally, with nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed annually.

“I have talked with, seen, and heard so many stories of West Virginians impacted by Parkinson’s disease,” Senator Capito stated. “Whether they are living with the disease or caring for someone impacted by it, Parkinson’s takes a terrible toll on the physical, mental, emotional, and economic well-being of everyone involved. The Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act is commonsense legislation that will establish a robust response to address the disease and move us towards new treatments and a cure.”

Senator Murphy echoed these sentiments: “All across Connecticut, I meet families that are suffocated by a family member's Parkinson's diagnosis... As the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s is expected to rise to more than one million in the next few years, we need real collaboration across public and private sectors to fast-track promising research... I’m proud to have helped get this legislation across the finish line so we can finally establish a national plan to end Parkinson’s once and for all.”

Ted Thompson from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research expressed gratitude: “On behalf of the 1 million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease, The Michael J. Fox Foundation applauds the passage of The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act in the Senate... We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Capito... Senator Murphy... Representative Bilirakis... Representative Tonko... To the thousands of Parkinson's advocates across the country who helped make this historic step toward a future free from this disease a reality — thank you.”

George Manahan, a Charleston business owner living with Parkinson's disease said: “Senator Capito is an incredible leader and champion of better cures and treatments for neurological diseases... Her leadership on the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act gives people suffering from Parkinson’s disease new hope for a cure.”

Dr. Ali Rezai from WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute emphasized: “Parkinson’s disease impacts many families causing disability in movement, cognition, and behaviors with no cure... Now more than ever, we need critical partnerships amongst scientists, physicians, government industry...”

The Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act will create an advisory council consisting of members from federal agencies involved in research care services for Parkinson's as well as caregivers patients other non-federal experts.

Specifically:

- Ensure coordination among federal entities managing treating curing.

- Evaluate current federal programs related.

- Write national plan prevent cure reduce financial impact.

- Report Congress progress goals.

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