Sali: ALS Registry Will Help Victims of Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Sali: ALS Registry Will Help Victims of Lou Gehrig’s Disease

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Bill Sali voted today to create a national registry to collect data regarding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and other motor neuron disorders. The bill now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign the legislation. The disease is named for Lou Gehrig, the baseball legend who died from the illness in 1941.

The registry is expected to gather information that could help find the cause of this debilitating disease and, it is hoped, lead eventually to a cure.

“Despite all our advancements in science, medicine and technology, we are no nearer to a cure for this disease than we were when it took Lou Gehrig’s life. Every year, 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS. Hopefully, this database will make a difference,” said Sali. “This legislation is especially important to our veterans, who seem to be victims of this disease at double the rate of the general population. I have always said we need to do everything we can to honor the sacrifice of the heroes who have served our country, in wartime and in peacetime. This is an important step toward keeping that commitment to them and to their families.”

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