News from National MS Society

Congress has heard your requests and the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1362, the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act. Due to your countless e-mails, phone calls, and discussions, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1362 late last night and this bill is one significant step closer to becoming law. For the past two years, we have been working hard along with our partners in the Parkinson’s community to make this a reality.

This legislation will establish a national data surveillance system that will track and collect data on the epidemiology, incidence, prevalence, and other factors of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s. Currently, such a national coordinated system does not exist to collect data on MS. The development of a surveillance system will address this gap by gathering all existing data on the incidence and prevalence of MS in one location. As a result, this system could help uncover and inform promising areas of MS research such as: genetic and environmental risk factors, and support the discovery of disease therapies, treatments, and one day—a cure.

Last night’s passage in the House was historic, but we are not quite done yet. To make this data system a reality, the Senate must now take action on S. 1273. 

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