Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act Signed into Law

WASHINGTON — The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act has
been signed into law by President Obama as part of the Omnibus
Public Land Management bill.

The landmark legislation, which had bipartisan support, includes
three main components to promote collaborative research,
rehabilitation and quality-of-life initiatives for Americans living
with paralysis and spinal cord injuries:

• Paralysis Research – Expands research on paralysis at the
  National Institutes of Health. This will encourage collaborative
  research by connecting scientists conducting similar work to
  further enhance understanding and speed discovery of better
  treatments and cures.
• Paralysis Rehabilitation and Care – Builds on research to
  enhance daily function for people with paralysis, including a
  Clinical Trials Network, to measure effectiveness of certain
  rehabilitation tactics and encourage shared findings on paralysis
  to improve rehabilitation.
• Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis and Other
  Physical Disabilities – Works with the Centers for Disease Control
  and Prevention to improve the quality of life and long-term health
  status of persons with paralysis and other physical
  disabilities.

“Advancements are made every day in spinal cord injury research,
but the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act will speed
progress and make research efforts more efficient,” Peter T.
Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher
& Dana Reeve Foundation, said in a statement applauding the
new law. The act was named for the late husband and wife, “whose
courage and grace in the face of adversity, coupled with their
extraordinary activism, were an inspiration to millions around the
world,” the statement read.

The legislation authorizes congressional funding of $25 million
each year through 2011.