Max Laird, Bismarck, letter -- Alzheimer’s Project: A giant step forward

BISMARCK — An amazing thing happened in Congress on the way to adjournment of the lame duck session: A bill passed with large bipartisan majorities in both houses.

The National Alzheimer’s Project Act will move a planning agenda for research and patient care forward The growing incidence (especially early onset) and the cost of care for this disease is outstripping our ability to pay for it.

The passage of this historic legislation will direct the federal government to begin planning for how we will deal with this incurable disease in the future.

Thanking our congessional delegation for their votes in support of this legislation is imperative.

This vote went nearly unnoticed by the national and local press. But nearly every family in North Dakota can point to a relative who has been afflicted by this disease.

This legislation will begin the long, hard work that is yet to be done to find a cure as well as help the family caregivers who today make huge sacrifices to keep their loved ones safe and at home as long as they can.

Hats off to Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy.

Max Laird

Tags: in the mail, alzheimers disease, alzheimers project act, opinion, health, politics, congress