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.