Collins, Capito offer two bipartisan bills supporting Alzheimer’s research

With Alzheimer’s projected to afflict 12.7 million Americans and surpass almost $1 trillion in annual costs by 2050, U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) unveiled two bipartisan bills to help bolster research to effectively treat the disease.

“We have made tremendous progress in recent years to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which holds great promise to end this disease that has had a devastating effect on millions of Americans and their families,” said Sen. Collins, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. 

“The two bills we are introducing will maintain our momentum and make sure that we do not take our foot off the pedal just as our investments in basic research are beginning to translate into potential new treatments,” she said. “We must not let Alzheimer’s define our children’s generation as it has ours.”

Sen. Collins on Jan. 30 sponsored the NAPA Reauthorization Act, S. 133, with seven original cosponsors, including Sen. Capito and U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mark Warner (D-VA), which would update and reauthorize the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) through 2035, according to the bill’s text.

“More than a decade ago, I cosponsored the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, and since becoming law, it has played a major role in ensuring Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are a priority at NIH and other federal agencies,” Sen. Capito said. “We must build on this momentum, continue to make critical research investments, and fight for all those impacted by this disease.” 

Also on Jan. 30, Sen. Collins sponsored the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, S. 134, with seven original cosponsors, including Sens. Capito, Moran, Murkowski, and Warner.

If enacted, S. 134 would continue through 2035 a requirement that the director of the National Institutes of Health submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“We’ve made progress by providing support and hope to those affected by this condition, but we must expand upon previous legislation to invest further in Alzheimer’s research,” Sen. Murkowski said. “These bipartisan efforts will aid in the goal of developing better treatments and eventually finding a cure.” 

Both measures are endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. The bills have been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee for consideration.