May 10, 2006

Chairman Larry E. Craig                                                    Ranking Member Daniel K. Akaka
U. S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee                      U. S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
412 Russell Senate Office Building                                 116 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510                                                    Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Craig and Ranking Member Akaka:

On behalf of the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN), I would like to express support for S. 1537 introduced by Senator Akaka to provide for the establishment of the Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoEs) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the Parkinson’s community—more than one million Americans and their families. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson’s community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public, PAN leads the fight to ease the burden and find a cure. PAN increases awareness about Parkinson’s disease and seeks federal support for Parkinson’s research.

The PADRECCs, as suggested by their name, are charged with conducting clinical and basic science research, administering national outreach and education programs, and providing state-of-the-art clinical care. Through the six PADRECCs and the National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium--a network of nationally dispersed VA clinicians with expertise and/or interest in the fields of Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders--the VA is able to treat 42,000 veterans with Parkinson's disease. The efforts of these Centers are the model of innovation in the delivery of healthcare and research for chronic disease in the veteran population. These services, provided by the existing six PADRECCs, are vital not only to veterans, but to the entire community.

We thank the Committee for your support and consideration of S. 1537. We believe that this bill must be enacted to ensure that the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers will continue providing valuable services to patients, family members, and the Parkinson’s community. We appreciate your efforts to ensure the highest level of care and hopeful research for our returning Veterans.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or Mary Richards, PAN Director of Government Relations at (202) 638-4101.

Sincerely,

Amy L. Comstock

Chief Executive Officer