Congressman Kim Schrier, M.D., of Washington’s 8th district joined the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter at the Eastside Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Redmond on Oct. 6, 2019.
Since becoming a member of Congress in 2019, Dr. Schrier has been a good supporter of Alzheimer’s Association priorities: These are to improve care and support for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and dramatically increase Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health. We appreciate her help on these important issues.
The following is a transcript of Congresswoman Schrier’s remarks during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s opening ceremony:
“I’m Kim Schrier, your newest member of Congress and the only woman doctor in Congress. I am so happy to be there as an advocate for you.
I wanted to thank you for coming, raising awareness, raising money for research and for inviting me to join you today.
This is a devastating disease, as all of you know. If you are a patient, recently diagnosed, I can only imagine the worry. The worry about what will happen to your personality, your memory and whether you’ll be a burden to your family. You worry about how everybody will get through this.
If you are the loved one, the spouse or the child of someone living with dementia, you worry about your relationship, what’s going to happen and if you’ll be able to provide the best care possible for your loved one.
And, for everybody else, I think we will not rest easy until we have prevention and a cure for this disease.
I wanted to let you know that you have a friend in Congress. As you just heard, I am a cosponsor of legislation to extend the Older Americans Act, which includes Meals on Wheels, senior care, accompaniment, transportation and those kinds of things, to people with younger onset Alzheimer’s. We want to make sure that people who are diagnosed before age 65 are eligible for all of those services. [H.R. 1903]
I support robust funding for research to find a cure for this disease in addition to prevention.
I am on the cosponsor waiting list – we need more sponsors from the other side of the aisle before I can officially be on the list of cosponsors – for the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, to support the ability of doctors to coordinate care and support caregivers in taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s. [H.R. 1873]
And I also cosponsored a bill on palliative care, which is not what everybody always thinks it is. This is a way to support people with all different kinds of illnesses to live their best lives with whatever time is left. [H.R. 647]
And so, you have a friend in Congress. And I will rest better and I think all of us will rest better when the day comes that we have prevention and a cure. Thank you for being here, raising awareness and raising funds.”
Are you interested in learning more about federal and state policies impacting people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia? Join us at one of our 11 annual public policy Town Halls happening this fall across Washington and northern Idaho.
The Town Halls include a brief presentation and a panel discussion featuring local experts and people impacted by the disease, who will share their experiences and offer perspectives on the issues being presented. There will also be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Town Halls are free to attend! Learn more here.
