New Jersey's Robert Menendez introduces Tourette Syndrome legislation to U.S. Senate

April 30, 2012 - PRLog -- The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is proud to announce the introduction of federal legislation for Tourette Syndrome by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

The Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2011, with bill number S. 2321, serves as the companion bill to H.R. 3760, which was introduced to the House of Representatives by U.S. Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ13) in December.

This bill, an important priority for both NJCTS and Senator Menendez, would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification and coordination of the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with respect to Tourette Syndrome.

“This legislation builds on current NIH activities on Tourette Syndrome in two important ways. First, the bill expands and intensifies data collection on TS to improve information on the prevalence of the disease. Secondly, the bill establishes Centers of Excellence to undertake extensive research into the causes, treatments, diagnosis and preventions of TS,” said Senator Menendez, who announced the introduction of this bill at the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health’s ninth annual “Shining Lights: Outstanding Leaders for a Brighter Future for Hispanics” awards gala on April 19 in Newark.

“This legislation is necessary for those suffering from TS and those looking for a cure,” Senator Menendez added. “I am proud to ally with the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders on this important issue.”

NJCTS, the nation’s first center of excellence for TS, was established in 2004. It is the only agency in the New Jersey – and one that leads the nation – that supports the needs of children and families dealing with TS, an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed inherited neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds called tics.

"New Jersey has changed the face of TS research, education and support through partnerships and collaborations,” NJCTS Executive Director Faith W. Rice said. “We are pleased that Senator Menendez has helped take this important legislation to the next level by introducing it to the Senate and hope that both the House of Representatives and the Senate see the importance of advocating on behalf of the 1 in 100 children nationwide who show symptoms of Tourette Syndrome.”

The next step for Senator Menendez in his quest to bring S. 2321 into law is to seek co-sponsors for the bill in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, bill H.R. 3760 already has 37 co-sponsors.

The complete language of bills S. 2321 and H.R. 3760 is available by visiting www.njcts.org. To register support for S. 2321, please visit POPVOX – which bridges the gap between the input the public wants to provide and the information Members of Congress want and need to receive – at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s2321. To also show support for H.R. 3760, please visit https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3760.