Angie Craig: “As a sponsor of the Udall Act and supporter of Parkinson's research funding, I appreciate the Chairman's interest in…”

“As a sponsor of the Udall Act and supporter of Parkinson's research funding, I appreciate the Chairman's interest in these matters. The NIH claimed to spend more than $89 million on Parkinson's research in 1997. The Congress set a baseline authorization of $100 million for Parkinson's research in the fiscal year 1998 bill making NIH appropriations and clearly stated in report language that Congressional intent was to increase the commitment of NIH resources to Parkinson's. Close review of NIH's Parkinson's funding practices indicates that most of the research funding they define as Parkinson's is, in fact, not focused on Parkinson's at all. The NIH claimed to spend more than $89 million on Parkinson's research, in FY 1997. In reality, we later discovered that less than $31 million--just more than one third--of that research was truly focused on Parkinson's. Obviously there seems to be some disconnect here. Congress needs to be as clear as possible when communicating our intent to NIH, and diligent when overseeing their funding practices with regard to Parkinson's. I agree with Senator Cochran that hearings should be held early next year to address these issues, and I look forward to working with him, the Chairman, and others to see this resolved.”