Cohen and King Reconvene Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congressman Pete King (NY-02) today reconvened the Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus for the 114th Congress along with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 22 Members of Congress. The Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus is a bipartisan group of legislators focused on spreading awareness about Tourette Syndrome (TS) and promoting policies that support people and families coping with the neurological disorder.
“Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans,” said Congressman Cohen, a Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) Public Policy Award-winner. “Congress needs to do more to help people suffering from Tourette Syndrome. The bipartisan Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus will increase awareness of this often misunderstood neurological disorder and promote legislation to help those who are suffering from it.”
“As a recipient of the TSA’s 2013 Public Policy Award, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome to recognize, educate and address the needs of the children and adults that endure the stigma, isolation and psychological impact of this disorder,” said Congressman King, who has also received the TSA’s Public Policy Award.
Tourette Syndrome is a hereditary neurological disorder that typically develops during childhood and often persists into adulthood with a complex pattern of abnormal movements and psychiatric conditions that can have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. The cause of the condition is unknown, although genetic changes evidently play a role, and is thought to affect more than 200,000 Americans.
Founding Members of the 114th Congress’ Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus include: Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Pete King (NY-02), Senator Chris Murphy (CT), and Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Elijah Cummings (MD-07), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Steve Israel (NY-03), David Jolly (FL-13), David Joyce (OH-14), Ann Kuster (NH-02), Sander Levin (MI-09), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Joseph Pitts (PA-16), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Charlie Rangel (NY-13), Peter Roskam (IL-06), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Adam Smith (WA-09), Ed Whitfield (KY-01), and John Yarmuth (KY-03).