Muscular Dystrophy Community, MDA Help MD-CARE Act Pass Senate, Bill Awaits President's Signature

CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association and the entire muscular dystrophy community are celebrating a tremendous victory today after the MD-CARE Act (S.315) passed in the Senate by unanimous consent late Thursday night. This follows the successful passage of the House version of this critical legislation (H.R. 594) in July. The MD-CARE Act (Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance Research and Education Amendments Act) is now on its way to the President's desk for his signature.

"Together, our combined voices and tireless fight helped ensure the MD-CARE Act passed in the Senate this week and in the House earlier this summer," said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks. "MDA salutes our Congressional champions, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), as well as their extraordinary staffs for their vision and leadership."

For more than a decade, MDA has actively continued to fight for the passage of amendments to the MD-CARE Act. The organization's community of advocates visit Capitol Hill, spend time with elected officials in their home towns, send emails, make phone calls and keep MD-CARE Act visible on social media to let policymakers know just how important this legislation is to the muscular dystrophy community.

Increased federal support is crucial to ensure researchers can continue making progress. Among the areas of emphasis within these amendments are cardiac and pulmonary research and an increased focus on resources for adults living with muscular dystrophy.

"The passage of the MD-CARE Act in 2001 was a game-changer for our muscular dystrophy community," said Derks. "Now, together with our advocates, we have ensured the lifesaving research and clinical momentum put in place through this bill remains strong and focused. We thank the community for being the strength that fuels MDA's mission to save and improve the lives of people fighting muscle disease."

About MD-CARE Act              
MDA fights to make sure the needs of the MD community are a top priority for our nation's lawmakers. Our goal is to promote public policy efforts that benefit individuals and families living with muscle diseases. The MD-CARE Act (Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments Act), originally passed in 2001 and reauthorized in 2008, provides the research and the infrastructure needed to accelerate discovery and bring drugs to market for all nine forms of muscular dystrophy. Since its passage, research in muscular dystrophy has exploded and the bill has led to scores of clinical trials and improved health care for people with muscular dystrophy.

About MDA                
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world's leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to saving and improving the lives of anyone with muscle disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. Visit mda.org and follow us at facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews. Learn more about MDA's mission by watching this video.

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SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association