Charleston Leader

The Senate has passed the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, a bill that aims to address Parkinson's disease comprehensively. The legislation, which previously passed the House of Representatives in December 2023, 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.). It now awaits the president’s signature.

The bill was renamed in honor of Representative Bilirakis’ brother, Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis, who succumbed to Parkinson's in May 2023, and Representative Jennifer Wexton, who is battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

The legislation seeks to unite federal efforts to cure and prevent Parkinson’s disease while alleviating its financial and health burdens on American families. According to recent data, nearly 90,000 new cases of Parkinson's are 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."

Senator Murphy added: "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... we need real collaboration across the public and private sectors."

Ted Thompson from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research praised the passage: “On behalf of the 1 million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease... We extend our heartfelt gratitude... for their exceptional bipartisan leadership on this bill.”

George Manahan from Charleston highlighted Senator Capito's role: “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 the importance of partnerships: “Now more than ever, we need critical partnerships amongst scientists... to accelerate research...”

The act will establish an advisory council comprising members from federal agencies involved in research and care related to Parkinson's disease as well as caregivers and patients. The council will coordinate federal efforts related to managing and curing Parkinson's disease while developing a national plan aimed at prevention and financial mitigation.