{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4042", "Tonko, Bilirakis Bipartisan Parkinson\u2019s Bill Passes House", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) celebrated the advance of his National Plan to End Parkinson\u2019s Act out of the House this morning in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 407-9. This legislation, introduced and championed alongside Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), would unite the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson\u2019s disease.\n\nYesterday, Tonko managed floor debate and spoke to the importance of this legislation. In addition to thanking his colleagues and local and national advocates, he recognized the pivotal work of his friend and colleague Jennifer Wexton who\u2014following a diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) which she referred to as \u201cParkinson\u2019s on steroids\u201d\u2014became a critical and steadfast advocate in calling for the advance of this legislation and giving a voice to the Parkinson\u2019s community.\n\nA clip of Tonko\u2019s emotional remarks can be viewed HERE.\n\nFull remarks that Tonko delivered on the floor can be read below:\n\nI rise today in support of the National Plan to End Parkinson\u2019s Act.\n\nThese past few years I have been honored to champion this legislation on behalf of the more than 1 million American\u2019s living with Parkinson\u2019s.\n\nI first learned more in depth about Parkinson\u2019s from a friend who suffered with it.\n\nSo when the opportunity arose to partner with Congressman Bilirakis on this meaningful effort I jumped right in and made it my personal mission to get this done on behalf of the millions of people living with Parkinson\u2019s.\n\nAs you may know, currently, there are no treatments to cure, prevent, or significantly slow down its progression.\n\nParkinson\u2019s is the second most common neurological disease and is unfortunately growing \u2013 fast.\n\nI do want to highlight that there is hope on the horizon. Earlier this year, researchers discovered a new biomarker for Parkinson\u2019s disease. This is an exciting step forward, but much more research and coordination is needed.\n\nOur bipartisan, no-cost legislation will, for the first time, unite the federal government in a mission to cure and prevent Parkinson\u2019s, alleviate financial and health burdens on American families, and reduce government spending over time. This pioneering legislation is greatly needed.\n\nThis bill will bring federal stakeholders and nonfederal experts together to implement a national plan to prevent and cure the disease, improve diagnosis and treatment options, and lessen the burden for caregivers and families.\n\nThe bill text is modeled off the successful National Alzheimer\u2019s Project model which brought together many parts of the federal government to improve the federal response.\n\nOnce signed into law, this bill will do for Parkinson\u2019s, what the National Plan did for Alzheimer\u2019s and bring together coordination, care and research all to help those with Parkinson\u2019s as well as their loved ones.\n\nThis would help bring a strong focus to a cure, treatment and also prevention. It will shine a needed light on the suffering relating to Parkinson\u2019s.\n\nSadly, we recognize that environmental triggers are likely a part of Parkinson\u2019s but so much is still unknown. More research and coordination are critical to getting answers to these questions.\n\nThank you to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for everything you do but especially all the work on this bill.\n\nAnd thank you to the New York based groups and advocates who stood by my side demanding action on this bill and giving a face to Parkinson\u2019s.\n\nTogether with patients, families and medical professionals we learned about the challenges of Parkinson\u2019s and why this bill is urgently needed.\n\nThank you to my good friend Gus Bilirakis for working on the National Plan to End Parkinson\u2019s Act with me.\n\nIt\u2019s an honor to work with you on this and I know how much this means to you personally and I thank you for your relentless work to push this forward.\n\nThe loss of your brother and mother-in-law in this last year has been devastating. I admire how you have channeled that pain and committed to making a difference so that we can bring hope to those with Parkinson\u2019s.\n\nThank you to Chairwoman Rodgers and Ranking Member Pallone for staying with us and finding a resolution to move this meaningful bill forward. I think the end product here is strong and something we can all be proud of. Thank you to Congressman Guthrie and Congresswoman Eshoo for your support as well.\n\nAnd thank you to our committee staff for your hard work on bringing this together. Special thanks to Tiffany Guarascio, Una Lee, Waverly Gordon, Shana Beavin and Jacquelyn Bolen for all your efforts.\n\nI also want to thank our good friend Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton who when faced with a devastating diagnosis, not only joined this fight but became one of the most vocal advocates fighting for the Parkinson\u2019s community.\n\nAs many of you know, Congresswoman Wexton was first diagnosed with PSP this year which she describes as a kind of \u2018Parkinson\u2019s on steroids\u201d.\n\nJennifer, today and every day you give a face to Parkinson\u2019s and you are changing the future for those who have not yet received the diagnosis and those who will benefit from the National Plan to End Parkinson\u2019s. I thank you for your advocacy and for bravely sharing publicly about your journey. I value your friendship and am in awe of your determination and your journey.\n\nI understand that receiving a Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis is truly devastating for individuals and their loved ones.\n\nIt is incumbent on Congress to ensure Americans know they will be supported during this frightening and life-altering time.\n\nOur legislation does just that and offers a dose of hope.\n\nThis is a commonsense, compassionate bill that will establish a robust response to address Parkinson\u2019s and ensure that patients and their families receive the care they need.\n\nBy moving this forward we will make a positive difference, improve lives and even save lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4042"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4910819008946419, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}