As someone who has been a caregiver to several family members, I am one of the millions of Americans experiencing the emotional, physical and financial heartache that dementia has on individuals and their families. I know there are more ways to help families like mine, and that’s why I work with my elected officials as a volunteer advocate with the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter.
Thanks to Congressman John Shimkus, 2019 will always be a year to remember in our fight to End Alzheimer’s. On December 20, 2019, due to the bipartisan support from our congressional leaders, a $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $10 million to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act was SIGNED INTO LAW! This HUGE milestone has brought annual federal funding for Alzheimer’s research to $2.8 billion, a more than six-fold increase since 2011. This is more than just a bill passing in Congress – these additional dollars offer real hope to families like mine, as we search for a cure for our nation’s most devastating and expensive disease.
This exciting news has left me more energized and inspired to work with our elected officials in the year ahead; I hope you feel the same! Please join me in thanking Congressman Shimkus for his leadership in prioritizing the eradication of Alzheimer’s in 2019. I look forward to continuing this momentum in 2020 with my Congressman and our US Senators, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. Happy New Year!
Kathy Young
