Congress Acts on CMT Research

[Guest guest]

Congress Acts on CMT Research

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation September 9, 2004,

calling on the National Institute of Health (NIH) to increase federal

research on CMT and CMT related disorders. The House requested a full

report from the NIH by March 2005. CMT is the most common inherited

neurological disorder in the USA and includes both women and men, as

well as children and adults.

The report accompanying the " FY 2005, Labor, Health and Human Services

and Education Appropriations " bill states that Congress is specifically

" concerned about the prevalence of this disease and recognizes the value

of CMT research to increase understanding. " NIH has been encouraged to

identify new research opportunities for CMT.

This Congressional action increases the awareness of CMT in much needed

legislation and is expected to increase attention of CMT at NIH. A focus

on CMT would supply funding for total arrestment and treatment.

The Senate will soon consider this important legislation where current

efforts to include 'CMT language' are in progress. This bill is targeted

to be enacted into law before the end of 2004, as an appropriations

measure providing yearly funds for the NIH.