Senate Leaders Attempt to Advance Paralysis Bill (July 29, 2008)

During a break in debate of the Energy bill, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) worked with Senate leaders to try to advance S. 1183, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.

Senate leadership bundled 35 bills – each which had passed the House of Representatives by a large margin – into one legislative package in an attempt to overcome the objections of one Senator. The omnibus bill, S.3297, Advancing America's Priorities Act includes the Reeve Paralysis Act, S.1183.

As many of you know, the Reeve Paralysis Act has passed the U.S. House twice – first by the Republican controlled Congress in 2006 and in October 2007 under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). In addition, the bill was approved unanimously by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in August, 2007. HELP Committee member Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who has admitted placing a hold on the paralysis legislation, was one of the fifteen members who voted unanimously to report the bill out of Committee.

On July 28, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) asked the Senate to consider a motion to proceed to consider Advancing America's Priorities Act. The motion to proceed to consideration of the bill was defeated by a vote of 52-40, 8 votes short of the 60 required.

Immediately following the vote, Reeve Champion Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) made the following statement:

"It's a shame that one member of this body has decided to block these measures that would have helped millions of Americans with disabilities. It makes no sense that pieces of legislation that received broad support in the House and would have passed in the Senate are being blocked. This kind of obstruction and partisan politics is the opposite of what our country needs."

Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is responsible for scheduling legislation for debate, urged his Senate colleagues to move to consider the omnibus package immediately, pointing to the fact that there are few legislative days left in this session of Congress. He said,

"We will not be able to take these up at a later time, and we'll have to wait until a new Congress. And in the meantime, there will be much suffering and mental distress."

The vote results are as follows:

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110^th Congress - 2^nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Grouped By Vote Position  

What is it?

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (CDRPA) was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives and approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee at the end of last year. These actions were important victories for the paralysis community, and the important first step towards having this comprehensive research, rehabilitation and quality of life legislation signed into law. These Congressional actions were in large part due to the unwavering dedication and leadership of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and HELP Committee Chairman Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) along with House Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

The Congressional consideration of this bill is also thanks to the tremendous efforts and commitment you, our amazing advocates, have made over the years to this piece of legislation that carries the names and vision of both Christopher and Dana Reeve. This piece of legislation will cement their legacy and the work to which they committed their lives. We will continue to work with our Congressional Champions to secure a date for a full vote by the Senate, as well as having the bill Go Forward in the House.

Background

The CDRPA is non-controversial and has strong bi-partisan support. It is primarily about two things: advancing collaborative research in paralysis and improving the quality of life today for people living with paralysis and mobility impairments from any cause -- stroke, ALS, spinal cord injuries, and others. The CDRPA encourages coordination of research to prevent redundancies and hopefully hasten discovery of better treatments and cures and, as importantly, to improve the daily lives today for those living with paralysis.

On Dec. 8th, 2006 the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act passed the US House of Representatives.  Unfortunately, the CDRPA was among many public health bills that got bogged down in the Senate, ultimately running out of time before the bill could pass the Senate in the 109th Congress.  The bill we be re-introduced in 2007, and its success last year makes us hopeful for its full passage in this legislative session.

Why Now

Despite strong bi-partisan support, the CDRPA did not pass in Christopher or Dana Reeve's lifetime. However, to help all of the current and future individuals with paralysis, we must join together and redouble our efforts to support his vision and pass the legislation to honor his memory. Millions of individuals with paralysis and their families are counting on us!