President Biden signed a bill Thursday funding research into neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Why it matters: The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act ensures $100 million annually in federal funding from 2022-2026 to research cures for and the prevention and treatment of the progressive disease that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord.
What he's saying: "For too long there have been no survivors of ALS, but this bill can get us closer to changing that," Biden said.
He also praised Republicans and Democrats for coming together to pass the legislation. "When we act together, we get things done. And this is totally — totally, totally a bipartisan effort," Biden said.
Biden said the signing of the bill "truly represents the spirit of the season ... a season of hope and light, goodness and grace, and the power of unity in everyday Americans doing extraordinary things."
Of note: The president signed a separate bill on Thursday banning imports from China's Xinjiang region and punishing the Chinese government for its genocide of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.
wilburelberforth on December 27th, 2021 at 05:08 UTC »
I have a terminal neurlogical disease called ALD. Any time I see funding and advocacy for ALS and MS I get so discouraged that there is absolutley zero discussion and zero funding to find a cure for ALD. I have literally never even met a person who knows about it. My literal neurlogist who diagnosed me didn't even know what it was and had to look it up.
So yes this is awesome that people are funding and fighting for ALS.
But please also fight for ALD funding and exposure and research.
https://aldconnect.org/what-is-ald/
steveatari on December 26th, 2021 at 19:05 UTC »
Lost an uncle to ALS. Terrible disease. He was a kind, generous, hardworking mason/builder and kept goin till the end.
kalevetklep on December 26th, 2021 at 14:22 UTC »
And he’s right. This research will help all ALS patients around the world. This debilitating disease should be stopped.