Congressional Champions Push to Seat the National Parkinson’s Plan Advisory Council
On Friday, January 9, Representatives Paul Tonko, Gus M. Bilirakis, Nanette Diaz Barrágan, Brian K. Fitzpatrick, Russ Fulcher, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Thomas H. Kean, Jr., Jennifer L. McClellan, and Suhas Subramanyam issued a bipartisan letter addressed to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya urging them to seat the National Parkinson’s Plan (NPP) Advisory Council.
APDA applauds this effort as it elevates the critical importance of seating the NPP Advisory Council. If your member of Congress did not sign the bipartisan letter, you can support these leaders by reaching out to your member to urge them to press HHS to immediately seat the Advisory Council. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, ask to be connected directly to your members of Congress.
Background:
The Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act (P.L. 118-66) was enacted in 2024 establishing the first-ever federal initiative dedicated to ending Parkinson’s disease. The law required the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deliver the National Parkinson’s Project Advisory Council’s first report to Congress by January 2, 2026. Unfortunately, the Council has not yet been seated despite an open call for nominations that closed in March 2025.
We will continue to keep you posted about this important initiative.
If you are interested in learning more about PD advocacy news and ways you can get involved, please fill out this simple form so we can keep you posted.