“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.” Richard Armour
“No one party can fool all of the people all of the time; that’s why we have two parties” Bob Hope
The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act (H.R.8585) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have written a bipartisan act in an attempt to prevent and cure Parkinson’s. Together, they introduced “The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act ” (H.R.8585) in the House.
The notion of bipartisan legislation is uncommon these recent days. The goal of H.R. 8585 will bring the federal government into a position “for the first time, unite the federal government in a mission to prevent and cure Parkinson’s, alleviate financial and health burdens on American families, and reduce government spending over time.” (quote from the Michael J. Fox Foundation)
Harry Brown said, “It’s important to realize that whenever you give power to politicians or bureaucrats, it will be used for what they want, not for what you want.” Parkinson’s does not care if you live in a ‘red,’ ‘blue,’ or ‘purple’ State in the U.S. Our politicians do not know anything about your journey living with Parkinson’s. Unless you tell your story or tell them about someone you know living with Parkinson’s, they will not know and possibly not care about supporting this Congressional act.
Having worked with the Michael J. Fox Foundation before and visiting various members of the House and Senate, the power of our voices can only be heard if you speak your words. Regarding the number of persons living with Parkinson’s, it is second only behind Alzheimer’s. While it is second, this does not diminish the importance of moving Congress to address several issues regarding Parkinson’s. Finally, Congress is getting ready to go on its August break; my assumption is that time is limited. If you write a blog, please ask your readers to contact their Congressperson to gain fuller support for H.R. 8585.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has made it easy to contact and write your Congressperson, just click (or copy) the URL below:
https://www.michaeljfox.org/advocacy-campaign/urge-congress-support-national-plan-end-parkinsons
“People often say, with pride, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ They might as well say, ‘I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future, or any future.’ … If we mean to keep any control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics.” Martha Gellhorn
Cover photo image by Peggychoucair from Pixabay
Journey with Parkinson's 