Michael Burgess: “On November 5, 1994, former President Ronald Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. "I…”

“On November 5, 1994, former President Ronald Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life," he wrote in a letter. At that time, 4 million Americans suffered with Alzheimer's. Today, over 5 million now carry that diagnosis. For members of my generation, that number will double to 10 million. President Reagan's 100th birthday would have been this past Sunday. This week, I am introducing the MIND Act. If passed, it will establish the issuance of United States Alzheimer's bonds to aid in the funding of Alzheimer's research. Proceeds of bond sales would fund the program and would be available to the Director of the National Institutes of Health solely for Alzheimer's research. The revenues generated by the sale of bonds would be funds for research in addition to, not instead of, regular appropriated funds. In his letter, President Reagan said, "I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead." I know he is correct. There could be no more loving gift for members of my generation and of future generations than to provide additional non-Federal funding to help people who are afflicted or who will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.”