As the world's leading voluntary health organization advocating for Alzheimer's care, support and research, the Alzheimer's Association is pleased that Congress and President Obama have responded to calls by the Alzheimer's Association on behalf of people with Alzheimer's disease, caregivers, health professionals and researchers, to provide federal funding for several programs critical to the Alzheimer's community.
The Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations bill, that was passed last week and signed by President Obama today, includes funding for the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services.? NAPA mandates the development of the first-ever national plan to address the rapidly escalating Alzheimer's crisis and coordination of Alzheimer's disease efforts across the federal government. One year after enactment of NAPA, the Association is delighted that Congressional Appropriators supported the intent of Congress for robust implementation of the statute by providing $250,000 in funding for the Advisory Council. Leadership and foresight by Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL), House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is appreciated by the Alzheimer's Association and the millions impacted by this fatal disease.
"It is clear that the Alzheimer's Association's efforts on behalf of people living with Alzheimer's disease, families and health professionals, are being heard. We urgently need funding that will provide us with a greater understanding of Alzheimer's as well as provide care and support to those currently impacted," said Robert Egge, Vice President of Public Policy for the Alzheimer's Association. "Our hope is that the priority placed on Alzheimer's disease by the federal government will continue to increase to a level that is proportionate to the human and financial toll of this disease."
Continuing to set an example for successful programs, Congress intends to fund the National Alzheimer's Call Center, which is a helpline run by the Alzheimer's Association that is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to provide crisis counseling, care consultation, and information and referral services in 140 different languages for people with the disease, caregivers, families and professionals and all those impacted. Historically, federal funding for the National Alzheimer's Call Center has been included in the annual appropriations bill at $1 million.? This productive private-public partnership has included a matching investment by the Alzheimer's Association to ensure effective support for people impacted by Alzheimer's disease.? The Association is pleased that the program was included in the Administration on Aging (AoA) Aging Network Support Activities program for Fiscal Year 2012. While the specific funding level was not enumerated in the Omnibus bill, the intent of Congress is to continue this successful program.
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