Joe Biden may have decided to step out of the race for the White House, but he’s ensured that the conversation around ending Parkinson’s disease won’t stop when he leaves office.
On July 2, the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act was signed into law by President Biden. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, it’s the first-ever federal legislation to focus on curing PD.
The crux of the legislation is a national project that the Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish, to be known as the National Parkinson’s Project. The mission of that project is clear: “to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure Parkinson’s, ameliorate symptoms, and slow or stop progression.”
At the project’s heart is an advisory council set up to achieve those goals. The council will be made up not only of experts from the CDC, NIH and other federal bodies, but also non-governmental members – including people living with Parkinson’s and people caring for those with PD. Together, this group will make recommendations to improve federally-funded programs, research the underlying factors contributing to PD, reduce the financial impact of the condition and more.
In the initiative, there are also calls to review the impact of Parkinson’s on physical, mental and social health, and a call to collaborate and coordinate with international organizations.
The PWF is thrilled about the bill’s signing and welcomes the national project.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
