908-575-7350

New Jersey Congressman Jon Runyan becomes 41st co-sponsor of proposed Tourette Syndrome legislation

Bill H.R. 3760 was introduced by fellow New Jersey Congressman Albio Sires
in December 2011, and 8 Garden State Congressmen have joined him in signing on

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is proud to announce that United States Congressman Jon Runyan (R-NJ3) has become the 41st Congressman to co-sponsor the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2011.

The CARE Act, with bill number H.R. 3760, was introduced to the House of Representatives by Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ13) on December 20, 2011. Congressman Runyan is the eighth New Jersey Congressmen to co-sponsor the bill, joining Sires and:

  • Leonard Lance (R-NJ7)
  • Chris Smith (R-NJ4)
  • Robert Andrews (D-NJ1)
  • Rush Holt (D-NJ12)
  • Steven Rothman (D-NJ9)
  • Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ11)
  • The late Donald Payne (D-NJ10, 1989-2012).

“I am pleased to co-sponsor H.R. 3760, ‘The Collaborative Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2011,’ ” Congressman Runyan said. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 100 children has been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. This legislation is an important step in establishing a comprehensive plan for combating Tourette Syndrome and helping all that suffer from this disorder.”

This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification and coordination of the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with respect to Tourette Syndrome. It also would establish regional centers of excellence across the country to conduct research into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control and treatment of Tourette Syndrome and associated neurological disorders such as OCD, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, anxiety and depression.

NJCTS, the nation’s first center of excellence for TS, was established in 2004. It is the only agency in New Jersey – and one that leads the nation – that supports the needs of children and families dealing with TS, an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed inherited neurological disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds called tics.

NJCTS Executive Director Faith W. Rice believes support for individuals and families with Tourette Syndrome is something everyone can be a part of and notes how – with the co-sponsorship of Republican Congressmen Runyan, Smith, Lance and Frelinghuysen – H.R. 3760 very much is bi-partisan legislation.

“We are pleased that Congressman Runyan has signed on with this important legislation and hope that other Congressmen and Senators will follow in his footsteps,” Rice said. “New Jersey has changed the face of TS research, education and support through partnerships and collaborations, and we look forward to seeing more develop on behalf of the children and families nationwide affected by Tourette Syndrome.”

The complete language of bill H.R. 3760 and other TS legislative press releases are available by visiting www.njcts.org. To register support for H.R. 3760, please visit POPVOX – which bridges the gap between the input the public wants to provide and the information Members of Congress want and need to receive – at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3760.

 

# # #

New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders, Inc.
Collaborative partnerships for the TS community.