To the Editor:

I am writing to personally ask all voters in District 11, regardless of party affiliation, to urge Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, to become a co-sponsor of the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2009.

I have written letters, called, and asked his representative to call, all to no avail. It is going to take massive intervention from all of us in District 11. On July 22, the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2009 was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate (S.1492/H.R.-3286). The purpose of these bills is to amend the Public Health Service Act to fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland is the primary sponsor of the Senate legislation.

I am pleased to say that both Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan of North Carolina are among the 31 co-sponsors. Rep. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts is the primary sponsor of the legislation in the House. So far, not one congressman from North Carolina is among the 39 co-sponsors. The Senate bill has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Health Education, Labor, and Pensions. Sen. Tom Harkin is now chair of this committee, and we need to urge his committee to move it from the committee to the Senate floor.

The House bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce whose chairman is Rep. Waxman. We need to encourage more House members to sign on and to urge Rep. Henry Waxman to act as soon as possible. It has been said that Alzheimer’s disease will become catastrophic in the next two decades. These combined efforts in the House and Senate will further much needed research and offer caregivers some relief. Please call and write Rep. Shuler. If you know him personally, please urge him to co-sponsor the House bill.

Linda Watson

Cullowhee