President Biden signs H.R. 3537, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, in the South Court Auditorium of the White House on Thursday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
President Biden signed a bill Thursday funding research into neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Why it matters: The Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act ensures $100 million annually in federal funding from 2022-2026 to research cures for and the prevention and treatment of the progressive disease that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord.
What he's saying: "For too long there have been no survivors of ALS, but this bill can get us closer to changing that," Biden said.
- He also praised Republicans and Democrats for coming together to pass the legislation. "When we act together, we get things done. And this is totally — totally, totally a bipartisan effort," Biden said.
- Biden said the signing of the bill "truly represents the spirit of the season ... a season of hope and light, goodness and grace, and the power of unity in everyday Americans doing extraordinary things."
Of note: The president signed a separate bill on Thursday banning imports from China's Xinjiang region and punishing the Chinese government for its genocide of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.