Bills reinforce Alzheimer’s as a national priority, strengthen national response, and increase accountability in federal spending

Washington, DC (March 20, 2024) — The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed three key bills addressing America’s Alzheimer’s crisis. The bills include reauthorization of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act.

“The bills the committee passed today play a major role in our fight to end a national crisis that has plagued the lives of tens of millions of patients, caregivers, and loved ones all across our country,” said UsAgainstAlzheimer’s chair and co-founder George Vradenburg. “These bills reinforce Alzheimer’s as a national priority, strengthen our national response, and increase accountability in federal spending allocated to fighting this disease.”

National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) – This bill serves as an important piece of legislation and commitment by the federal government to prioritize Alzheimer’s and address it with urgency and as a public health crisis. A major priority of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, NAPA prioritizes the importance of risk reduction and prevention.

The six primary goals in NAPA are:

• Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) by 2025.
• Enhance Care Quality and Efficiency.
• Expand Supports for People with Alzheimer’s and Their Families.
• Enhance Public Awareness and Engagement. Improve Data to Track Progress.
• Accelerate Action to Promote Healthy Aging and Reduce Risk Factors for ADRD.

Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 2024 – This reauthorization bill represents an effort to strengthen our nation’s response to Alzheimer’s with a specific focus on increasing public awareness of the disease. It provides funding for state, local and tribal public health departments to support the implementation of interventions that center on reducing risks and increasing early detection and diagnosis of the disease.

Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act – This bill enhances accountability and transparency in federal spending for Alzheimer’s research, care, and support services. Specifically, the bill requires the National Institutes of Health to submit annual budget and estimated personnel needed to carry out initiatives related to NAPA.

The bills now advance to the House Floor, where every member of the House of Representatives will have an opportunity to show their support in ending the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

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