The National
Spinal Cord
Injury Association

Disability in the News.

Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill Passes New York State Legislature.

NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the inspirational support and heroic efforts of Christopher Reeve, the New York state legislature passed an historic Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill (7287C) at the eleventh hour of the legislative session last week. Christopher Reeve, Chairman of the Board of the American Paralysis Association (APA), will join New York Governor George Pataki when he signs this bill into law on July 14 in New York City with the bill's co-sponsors. Beginning in January 1999, up to $8.5 million in funds collected from violations of New York Vehicle and Traffic laws will be applied annually to basic neurological research to find a cure for spinal cord injury paralysis.

Co-sponsored by Senator Vincent Leibell (37th District) and Assemblyman Edward Griffith (40th District), this legislation benefits the Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust. A 13-member advisory board in the New York Department of Health will approve and oversee research supported by the fund. New York joins Kentucky and Florida in spearheading this landmark legislation. Christopher Reeve, a New York state resident, applauded passage of the bill and remarked, "Funds raised in New York will represent a 10% increase in the annual spinal cord research investment made by this nation. I urge other states to follow New York's lead and enact similar legislation. This bill will help speed up the process of finding new therapies and an eventual cure."

Every year 12,000 Americans sustain spinal cord injuries, 37% of which are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Average lifetime care costs for paraplegics can reach $500,000 or up to $1.35 million for quadriplegics.

"It is very encouraging to hear that more funds will be available to pursue the many opportunities that current basic research in neurobiology is providing to scientists working to restore function, to the damaged spinal cord. I applaud the New York legislature for passing, and the governor for signing, such important and far reaching legislation," said Lorne Mendell, Distinguished Professor and Chair Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook.

For more information, please contact APA at 973-379-2960 or visit them on the World Wide Web at http://www.apacure.com. For legislation background, please call State Senator Vincent Leibell's office at 914-279-3773.  
 

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