New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt Co-Sponsors CARE for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2013

Washington, DC, February 17, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is proud to announce that Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ12) has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2013.

The legislation, originally introduced by Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ8) in December 2011 as bill H.R. 3760 and co-sponsored by Holt and 41 other Congressmen, was reintroduced by Sires in January and would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification and coordination of the programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with respect to Tourette Syndrome – a misunderstood, misdiagnosed, inherited neurological disorder that affects 1 in 100 children and adults, and is characterized by vocal sounds and/or motor movements known as tics.

“Tourette Syndrome presents real challenges that many New Jerseyans have described to me in personal, moving terms,” said Congressman Holt, who met with the Kowalski and Silvers families – NJCTS member families that are affected by TS – in the spring of 2012. “I am pleased once again to cosponsor the CARE for Tourette Syndrome Act. Through the increased research and data coordination this legislation calls for, we can increase our understanding of the disorder and improve the lives of many people.”

A primary purpose of this legislation is to establish regional centers of excellence across the country to conduct research into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control and treatment of Tourette Syndrome and associated disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety and depression. New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders, the nation’s first center of excellence for TS, was established in 2004.

Joining Congressman Holt as co-sponsors of H.R. 146 are Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ7), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA2), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ3), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA19), Del. Eleanor Norton (D-DC0), Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY3) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN5). To encourage your Congressman to co-sponsor this bill, show your support or learn more, please visit https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr146 or www.njcts.org.

“We are pleased that this important legislation has been co-sponsored by Congressman Holt and hope that other Congressmen will follow in his footsteps,” NJCTS Executive Director Faith W. Rice said. "New Jersey has changed the face of TS research, education and support through partnerships and collaborations, and we look forward to seeing more develop on behalf of the children and families nationwide affected by Tourette Syndrome.”