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SharePresident signs Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act into law
March 30, 2009 -- President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Bill, which contains the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 25 and the U.S. Senate on January 15. National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) was a staunch supporter of this landmark legislation, independently and through the Spinal Cord Leaders Council. NSCIA's hope is that the act will promote collaborative research, rehabilitation and quality of life initiatives for millions of Americans living with paralysis and spinal cord injuries and disease. Video of the signing is available at C-Span.
Said the President:
"Now, the legislation I'm signing today also makes progress on another front for which many Americans have long waited.
The Christopher and Dana Reeve's Paralysis Act is the first piece of comprehensive legislation specifically aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Americans living with paralysis. Many folks and organizations from across the disability community worked hard to get this bill passed, and we are grateful to each of you for bringing us that much closer to providing all Americans with disabilities a full, fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
This act creates new coordinated research activities through the National Institutes of Health that will connect the best minds and best practices from the best labs in the country, and focus their endeavors through collaborative scientific research into the cure for paralysis, saving effort, money, and, most importantly, time.
It promotes enhanced rehabilitation services for paralyzed Americans, helping develop better equipment and technology that will allow them to live full and independent lives free from unnecessary barriers. And it will work to improve the quality of life for all those who live with paralysis, no matter what the cause.
That's the mission of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. In the lobby of their facility in New Jersey sits Christopher's empty wheelchair. And his son, Matthew Reeve, was once asked if the sight of it ever saddened him, and he replied no. He said, "Empty chairs -- that was Dad's goal," he said. "We hope there will be many more of them."
Matthew is here with us today. And the legislation I'm about to sign makes solid progress toward the realization of that hope and the promise of a brighter future."