WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) reestablished the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus and announced the addition of three new members, bringing total membership to 22 senators.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that destroys the body’s ability to control muscle movement. There is no effective treatment for the disease, no known cause, and currently no cure. The bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus brings together senators from both sides of the aisle who share a commitment to working collaboratively to advocate on behalf of ALS patients and their families. The mission of the Senate ALS Caucus is to:
New members of the caucus are Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Other members, in addition to Co-Chairs Chris Coons and Mike Braun, are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
“The bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus is committed to bringing special awareness to the work needed to end this disease that has caused so much anguish for countless Americans and their families,”said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “I’m glad to announce that three new members have joined the Senate ALS Caucus in demonstration of the growing bipartisan effort to support research, explore new treatment options, and find a cure for ALS. I look forward to more progress in the months and years ahead.”
“I am happy to join Senator Coons in announcing three new members to the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus,” said Senator Braun, Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “I look forward to working with members new and old to find real solutions in aiding individuals suffering with ALS.”
“The ALS Association urges our elected officials to address the needs of people living with ALS and their loved ones. We thank the legislative champions on the Senate ALS Caucus who empower people living with ALS to live their lives to the fullest,” says Melanie Lendnal, Senior Vice President of Advocacy, the ALS Association. “Working together with senators on the ALS Caucus, we will find new policy solutions to make ALS a livable disease.”
“I AM ALS is grateful to Senators Coons and Braun for reintroducing the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus in the 118th Congress. This caucus has been an intricate part of the bipartisan efforts to strengthen the health care system and research efforts for people living with ALS. With their relentless leadership and the important work by the caucus, we are beginning to see amazing progress and ALS is no longer hopeless. Since the formation of the caucus, it has taken a disease that was often an afterthought and made it a priority to turn this 100% fatal disease into a chronic one. In particular, the caucus has led the effort to increase research funding, passed a bill to eliminate the five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits, and passed the historic ACT for ALS. As a result of its efforts, the 90% of people living with ALS that do not qualify for clinical trials have access to safe, promising treatments today and we are able to conduct critical research on this population to understand the efficacy of a drug at different stages of ALS, as well as to understand more about the biology of ALS,” said Brian Wallach, Co-Founder, I AM ALS. “We are now incredibly hopeful about the future because of the efforts of the caucus. I AM ALS looks forward to the partnership with the caucus and all of Congress to expedite policies that will help develop effective treatments and, hopefully soon, cures for ALS.”
