Schakowsky Statement Celebrating FDA’s Approval of New ALS Treatment

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement celebrating the US Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve a new treatment for ALS:

"Today is a beautiful day! I know that my dear friend, Arty, would have loved to see this day. I know it will bring hope to all Americans suffering from ALS.

"This is the first ALS treatment to be approved in five years. The average length of time that ALS patients live after diagnosis is 2-4 years. As President Biden says, ‘This is a big f'n deal.'

"This could not have happened without the powerful, heartfelt testimony from organizers like my constituents, Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya. It is their advocacy that helped the ACT for ALS bill become law, and advocacy that made this approval possible.

"Today's victory is their victory, and a victory for the entire ALS community. I look forward to the day when we can all say, ‘ALS is gone.'"

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