Bilirakis Bill to Fight Against Parkinson's Disease Passes Senate, Heads to President's Desk

Representative Gus Bilirakis’ (R-FL) bill, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act has passed in the Senate by a voice vote. It will now head to President Joe Biden’s (D) to be signed into law. The bill passed in the House of Representatives in December.

In the House, the bill was known as the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s.

The first half of the bill’s title was named after Rep. Bilirakis' late brother. Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis was a primary care physician who passed away due to Parkinson’s in May. The second half of the bill was named after Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), who deals with a rare neurodegenerative disease – Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

The bill is “no-cost legislation” that will “unite experts in a public-private partnership to advance a national project for the purpose of preventing, treating, and ultimately curing Parkinson’s disease once and for all.”

Rep. Bilirakis released a statement following his bill’s passage in the upper chamber.

“This important legislation now heads to the President's desk to become law. This is great news for patients and families struggling with this horrific disease! We will never stop fighting until we find a cure!” said Rep. Bilirakis.

According to Rep. Bilirakis’ press release in December, the legislation comes at a crucial time as discoveries have been made in the Parkinson’s research field. A new biomarker that can reveal “a key pathology” and lead to a better understanding of the disease.

“I will continue this fight in memory of my dear brother, other family members, and on behalf of all Americans who are still struggling with this debilitating disease,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “It takes a terrible toll on the physical, emotional and economic well-being of everyone involved.  The lack of treatment options leave patients, families, and American taxpayers in a terrible quandary. We must change our approach to get better results, which is exactly what our legislation will do. It builds upon past successes and strives to replicate other national project models that have helped advance health care goals and treatment options.”

The Florida congressman concluded, “This critical legislation will provide hope to those who are suffering and hopefully lead to better patient outcomes with less expensive disease management.”

Congressman Bilirakis represents Florida’s 12 Congressional District.