Senator Coons introduces new members of Senate ALS Caucus

May 12, 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) reintroduced the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus with six new members, bringing total membership to 21 senators.

New members include Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Current members include Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

“Each May, we lift up the many courageous people battling ALS and their families, and bring special awareness to the work needed to end this disease,” said Sen. Coons, co-chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “This ALS Awareness Month, I’m glad to announce that six new members have joined the Senate ALS Caucus – a bipartisan group working to expand resources to support research, new treatment options, and one day, a cure. I look forward to more progress in the months and years ahead.”

“I am happy to join Senator Coons in announcing six new members to the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus,” said Sen. Braun, co-chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “I look forward to working with members new and old to find real solutions in aiding individuals suffering with ALS.”

“Since the launch of the Congressional ALS Caucus two short years ago, we have seen 165 members of the House and Senate come together to drive forward ALS research funding, introduce innovative legislation to improve patient access to therapies and deliver financial dignity for those impacted by ALS” said Danielle Carnival, Ph.D., CEO of I AM ALS. “Under the leadership of Senator Coons and Senator Braun, the Senate ALS caucus has already delivered real impact for people living with ALS and their families and we look forward to continuing to work with them to realize the hope felt by so many by turning the hope of scientific progress into the reality of effective treatments and cures.”

“The ALS Caucus provides an important voice for people with ALS and their loved ones, ensuring the ALS community is at the table when policies that impact their lives are debated,” said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of The ALS Association. “Together, we have achieved important policy changes: passing legislation providing people with ALS immediate access to SSDI and Medicare, increasing funding for ALS research, and making progress to accelerate drug development, approval and access. We look forward to working with the ALS Caucus during the 117th Congress to help expedite effective treatments and cures as soon as possible.”

The bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus brings together Senators from both sides of the aisle who share a commitment to working collaboratively to advocate on behalf of ALS patients and their families. The mission of the Senate ALS Caucus is to:

• Raise awareness about the difficulties faced by ALS patients and their families;
• Advance policies that improve the quality of life for ALS patients;
• Expand the network of support for those suffering from ALS; and,
• Advocate for investments in research that will enhance our understanding of the causes of ALS, identify effective treatments, and eventually discover a cure.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that destroys the body’s ability to control muscle movement. There is no effective treatment for the disease, no known cause, and currently no cure.