Upon learning that President Obama signed the Steve Gleason Act, which preserves access to voice devices for victims of ALS and other debilitating diseases, into law late last week, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), a huge proponent of the bill, released a statement to reiterate his support.
Gleason, a
former player with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, was diagnosed with ALS
in 2011. As the disease progressed and eventually took away his ability
to speak, Gleason became a leading advocate for policies to preserve
coverage for synthetic speech devices under Medicare.
Scalise helped introduce the measure earlier this year, seeing it pass the House by a unanimous vote recently.
“The signing into law of the Steve Gleason Act is a huge victory for every American who refuses to be defined by their disabilities,” Scalise said. “Steve Gleason served as a true inspiration and led the effort to champion this issue, ultimately helping us push this legislation through Congress and now into law. Today, thanks to Steve Gleason, thousands of people with disabilities who were once forced to suffer in silence will now have a voice so they can live life to the fullest.
“The reason Steve Gleason inspires people today is not because of what he did on the football field, but because of what he has done to serve as an inspiration for people with disabilities all across the country since he was diagnosed with ALS,” Scalise said before the House voted on the legislation. “(He has gone out) and shown that he is able to exhibit his voice because of the speech-generating device that he has. This isn’t something he wants for himself, but for all people who have something to say, who have that same voice, to be able to go out and inspire other people. When (Medicaid) made the change in policy that started to take away that voice, he spoke up, as so many others did, and said we need to reverse this.”
Scalise (R-LA) has represented Louisiana’s First District in the House since 2008. Born in New Orleans in 1965, Scalise served for four months in the Louisiana State Senate and 12 years in the Louisiana House. Scalise was educated at Louisiana State University.
Scalise serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.