(Washington, D.C.)–Congressman Jim Langevin participated in a rally this morning on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building. Langevin was joined by a number of House and Senate colleagues, as well as Dana Reeve, Chairperson of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF), to announce the reintroduction of the bi-partisan Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act. Mrs. Reeve was Langevin's guest to the President's State of the Union Address earlier this year.

"Two years ago, in the beginning of the 108th Congress, I joined many of the same advocates here today in announcing the introduction of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act," said Congressman Langevin. "On that spring day in 2003, we were joined by Chris himself. Each of us who had the opportunity to work with Christopher Reeve on these issues know that his perseverance in raising awareness of spinal cord injuries and bringing science closer to a cure has already advanced the cause tremendously."

The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act (CRPA) promotes research in paralysis and improvements in quality of life for people living with paralysis and mobility impairments from afflictions such as stroke, ALS and spinal cord injuries. The CRPA encourages coordination of research to prevent replication of efforts and hasten discovery of better treatments and cures. Specifically, the CRPA addresses desperate needs in the areas of paralysis research, paralysis rehabilitation and care, improving the quality of life for persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities and basic rehabilitation and health sciences research.

Langevin will be joined by Reeve; Marc Buoniconti, Ambassador of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis; Dr. Wise Young, a pre-eminent neuroscientist in the field of spinal cord injury; and over 100 advocates, many of whom are living with paralysis or mobility impairments, who traveled from across the country to advocate for passage of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act.

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