Legislative Issues & Impact

Public Policy Priorities of the Tourette Association

Appropriations for Tourette Syndrome at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) and the Tourette Association have partnered to provide much needed education and research programs on Tourette.  The program strives to advance scientific knowledge about the prevalence, risk-factors and treatment of Tourette as well as educate physicians, health care professionals, and school personnel, and the general public about the disorder.

The Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015 (H.R. 292/S.849)

Advocating for the inclusion of Tourette Syndrome to receive systematic epidemiological research, data collection and analysis at the CDC to better understand the true prevalence and public health impact of the disorder, we are advocating for S.849 to be included in the Senate’s Health Innovation Act just as H.R. 292 was included in the House 21st Century Cures Act.

The Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus

The Caucus is a bi-partisan coalition of members committed to advocating on behalf of Americans with Tourette. The Caucus recognizes the needs of children and adults struggling with Tourette and strives to educate and involve members on the topic as it is addressed by Congress.  The Caucus is now Bicameral (made up of 31 House Representatives and 1 Senator). We are continuing to work to solicit Representatives and Senators to join and make this a strong Bipartisan and Bicameral Caucus

The Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act (H.R. 619/S.276)

The CARE Act would require the Director of the NIH to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs and activities regarding scientific and clinical research on Tourette. This legislation was initiated by NJ Center on TS at Rutgers but currently is being led nationally by the Tourette Association in partnership with NJ and the Congressional Sponsors.

Congressional Ask