LEARNING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

My brother and I enjoyed meeting with Congressman Roskam on several occasions, in his District office in West Chicago, Illinois, and in his Washington, D.C. office on Capitol Hill. These meetings were specifically focused on the Congressman's interest in the societal implications of Alzheimer's disease, and his support of increased care and funding to address this issue that is plaguing our communities.  I learned that Alzheimer's is not just an aging issue, it is also a healthcare crisis, with its rising costs and society's inability to fully support victims and their families. 

Congressman Roskam has been passionate about addressing Alzheimer's disease for many years. In 2016 he was awarded the "Legislator of the Year" award by the Alzheimer's Association for his commitment to this cause. 

As a leader of the Ways & Means Committee, Congressman Roskam has served as subcommittee chairman for Tax Policy, Oversight, and now presides over the Health policy. In this role, he is very focused on advancing the cause of Alzheimer's disease, through a variety of initiatives, including these two bills that have been introduced, and are currently working through the legislative process in Congress:

• BOLD (Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act).  This bill would establish centers of excellence in public health practice for advancing the care for victims of Alzheimer's disease.
• PCHETA (Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act).  This bill would improve the training of health professionals to enhance care of Alzheimer's patients.  

Additionally, I am also learning about the process of policymaking through the Alzheimer's Association.  

Through these efforts, I have enjoyed learning about the legislative process and the measures that are taken to initiate, progress, and execute bills.  It is fascinating to analyze how these bills then become policy that is implemented to improve our society.