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US Senator Kit Bond is re-introducing legislation that he says will provide funding and other support for Alzheimer's patients and their families. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
US Senator Kit Bond was in Springfield today to talk about Alzheimer's legislation he plans to reintroduce.
His announcement comes one day before the birthday of late President Ronald Reagan, who suffered from Alzheimer's.
Speaking to a group at the Northview Senior Center, Bond said now is the time for the federal government to increase its investment in research funding.
Bond says by passing his proposal, Congress would double funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health and increase funding for programs that support those who take care of Alzheimer's patients.
Bond's bill also would establish a tax credit for caregivers.
That's something that Rick Webb says he likes.
Alzheimer's has impacted both of his parents.
But he says caregivers want more than financial support from the federal government.
Even though Bond's bill deals with funding for Alzheimer's research, he says it doesn't address stem cell research.
Some Alzheimer's patients and their families, including many in former President Reagan's family say they support human embryonic stem cell research.
But many lawmakers and President Bush say they don't because the research often involves the destruction of human embryos.
Senator Kit Bond says he doesn't believe stem cell research is pertinent to Alzheimer's research.
Bond says his Alzheimer's proposal would cost 3 to 4 billion dollas per year.
