[Statement from Congressman Smith] This past week, the House passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (N.A.P.A.) co-authored by Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.), House co-chairs of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. Introduced in February 2010, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act would create the National Alzheimer’s Project which would coordinate government efforts to prevent and treat the disease and create a national strategy for defeating Alzheimer’s.

“The passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act is a huge step forward in our battle against the crisis of Alzheimer’s disease,” Smith said. “With the incredible devastation of over five million Americans afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease at an estimated cost of over $170 billion – numbers expected to skyrocket in coming years without effective interventions – we need to be sure we are doing everything possible to reverse the course of this disease. By requiring the development of a coordinated, integrated national plan to address Alzheimer’s, NAPA will provide the framework to accelerate the development of efficacious treatments and coordinated, comprehensive care.”

Smith and Markey worked with Alzheimer’s advocacy groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America on the bill, H.R. 4689, since its introduction in February.

“When America has a game plan, America wins. Passage of this bill means we will help ensure that the federal government better coordinates all of the research and clinical programs dealing with Alzheimer’s, which is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States,” said Rep. Markey. “This bill requires a plan for beating Alzheimer’s and represents an important step forward in our country’s efforts in this area.”

This past Wednesday, the House gave final passage, by voice vote, to the measure which was championed in the Senate by Evan Bayh (D-IN.) and Susan Collins (R-ME.). The bill is now headed to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law, delivering one of the most significant victories in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease in the past three decades.

The legislation directs that the National Alzheimer’s Project Act will be located in the Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, and establishes an Advisory Committee of private and federal experts to work with the Secretary to comprehensively assess and address Alzheimer’s research, institutional services and home and community-based care.

NAPA will work to mitigate the agony and suffering by millions of patients and their families, and save the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually and trillions of dollars over coming decades.