IV 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 120 

Supporting the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease 

by the year 2025, as articulated in the draft National Plan to Address 

Alzheimer’s Disease from the Department of Health and Human Services. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 24, 2012 

Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. 

TOWNS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. 

LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. RAHALL, and Mr. LOBIONDO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goal of preventing and effectively treating 

Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2025, as articulated in 

the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease 

from the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Whereas Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of 

death in the United States; 

Whereas Alzheimer’s disease is the only disease among the 10 

leading causes of death in the United States that lacks 

a means of prevention or a cure, and the progression of 

which cannot be slowed; 


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•HCON 120 IH 

Whereas more than 5,000,000 people in the United States 

suffer from Alzheimer’s disease; 

Whereas, in 2011, 15,200,000 family members and friends 

provided 17,400,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at 

$210,500,000,000 to patients with Alzheimer’s disease 

and other dementias; 

Whereas, by the year 2050, as many as 15,000,000 people 

in the United States will have Alzheimer’s disease if scientists do not make progress in the prevention or treatment of the disease; 

Whereas the Federal Government spent an estimated 

$140,000,000,000 under the Medicare and Medicaid programs to care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease in 

2011; 

Whereas spending relating to the treatment of Alzheimer’s 

disease under the Medicare and Medicaid programs is 

projected to be more than $850,000,000,000 per year, in 

2012 dollars, by the year 2050; 

Whereas scientists working to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease have already identified— 

(1) more than 100 genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease; 

(2) biomarkers to identify the people who are at risk 

for Alzheimer’s disease; and 

(3) other promising leads in gene, protein, and drug 

therapies to benefit people who have Alzheimer’s disease 

or are at risk of developing the disease; 

Whereas an emphasis on early diagnosis, workforce training, 

education, and support for patients and the families of 

patients, as well as other programs and initiatives spearheaded by State and local governments, advocacy organiVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:23 Apr 25, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC120.IH HC120

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•HCON 120 IH 

zations, doctors, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, 

are already making a difference in reducing the burden 

of Alzheimer’s disease for patients, families, and communities; 

Whereas the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (Public Law 

111–375; 124 Stat. 4100), which Congress passed unanimously on December 15, 2010 and President Barack 

Obama signed into law on January 4, 2011, required the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services to create the 

first National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, and 

established the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services to assist the Secretary of 

Health and Human Services in this task; 

Whereas, shortly after the National Alzheimer’s Project Act 

was enacted, the Department of Health and Human 

Services created the Interagency Group on Alzheimer’s 

Disease and Related Dementias to inform the National 

Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease; 

Whereas, in formulating the draft National Plan to Address 

Alzheimer’s Disease, the Department of Health and 

Human Services, the Interagency Group on Alzheimer’s 

Disease and Related Dementias, and the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services focused 

on 3 main topics, long-term services and support, clinical 

care, and research; and 

Whereas the draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease includes— 

(1) the bold and transformative goal of preventing 

or treating Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2025; and 

(2) specific performance metrics to optimize the 

quality and efficiency of care, expand support for patients 

and families, enhance public awareness and engagement, 


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•HCON 120 IH 

track progress, and drive improvement: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) supports the groundbreaking national goal 

4 of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease by 

5 the year 2025 and the other goals of the draft Na6 tional Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease; 

7 (2) finds that basic science, medical research, 

8 and therapy development, through enhanced re9 search programs and expanded public-private part10 nerships, are necessary for— 

11 (A) reaching the goal of preventing and 

12 treating Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2025; 

13 and 

14 (B) identifying a definitive cure for Alz15 heimer’s disease; 

16 (3) calls for further public awareness and un17 derstanding of Alzheimer’s disease; 

18 (4) supports increased assistance for people 

19 with Alzheimer’s disease and the caregivers and fam20 ilies of those people; and 

21 (5) encourages early diagnosis and access to 

22 high-quality care for people with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Æ 


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