Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota
Tomassoni ALS research bill signed into law
Posted 3/30/22
ST. PAUL - A bill to provide $20 million to help find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was scheduled to be signed on Wednesday after the Minnesota Senate took final action Monday on the …
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Tomassoni ALS research bill signed into law
Sen. David Tomassoni, seated left, looks on as Gov. Tim Walz signs his $25 million ALS research and caregiver support bill into law late Wednesday afternoon at the state Capitol.
photo courtesy of the Governor's Office
Posted
ST. PAUL - A bill to provide $20 million to help find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was scheduled to be signed on Wednesday after the Minnesota Senate took final action Monday on the measure authored by Sen. David Tomassoni, I-Chisholm, who was diagnosed with ALS last summer.
First passed unanimously on March 10, senators on Monday took up a slightly modified version of the bill passed 121-9 by the House of Representatives last week. Six Republican and three DFL House members voted against the bill.
“The House made a small change in the caregiver grant portion of the bill,” Sen. Tom Bakk, I-Cook, told the Senate. “I think it’s a good change. Sen. Tomassoni thinks it makes the bill better. The amendment the House put on made caregiver respite support also eligible for grants under the program.”
The bill’s $5 million for caregiver supports is in addition to the $20 million designated for research.
Bakk also read a note from Tomassoni prior to the chamber’s vote.
“Thank you for allowing me to comment on the ALS bill and thank you to Sen. Bakk for reading them and shepherding the bill through the process,” Tomassoni said. “It’s been an emotional several weeks for me and my family, one full of love and overwhelming gratitude. I am so proud of this legislature for coming together in almost unanimous support of an issue that’s bigger than all of us. This bill has the potential to be the beginning of the eradication of an insidious disease, not for me, but for future generations. That is something we can all be proud of. If we do nothing else this session, and I really want a big bonding bill (‘Is that David or what,’ Bakk interjected), we can all say we’ve accomplished something significant.”
Tomassoni also acknowledged the many people who testified on behalf of the bill, legislators, family, friends and others who helped to move the bill along.
A signing ceremony including Gov. Tim Walz, Tomassoni and his family, Senate and House bill authors, legislative leaders and ALS research advocates took place on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Governor's Reception Room at the state Capitol.
"Today our state is making real progress in the fight against ALS," said Governor Walz. "I'm proud to join Senator David Tomassoni, a bipartisan group of legislators, and advocates who have worked tirelessly to pass this bill for Minnesotans living with ALS and their caregivers. By investing in ALS research and caregiver support, we are moving together toward finding a cure for this disease and better caring for Minnesotans living with ALS and their families."
First passed unanimously on March 10, senators on Monday took up a slightly modified version of the bill passed 121-9 by the House of Representatives last week. Six Republican and three DFL House members voted against the bill.
“The House made a small change in the caregiver grant portion of the bill,” Sen. Tom Bakk, I-Cook, told the Senate. “I think it’s a good change. Sen. Tomassoni thinks it makes the bill better. The amendment the House put on made caregiver respite support also eligible for grants under the program.”
The bill’s $5 million for caregiver supports is in addition to the $20 million designated for research.
Bakk also read a note from Tomassoni prior to the chamber’s vote.
“Thank you for allowing me to comment on the ALS bill and thank you to Sen. Bakk for reading them and shepherding the bill through the process,” Tomassoni said. “It’s been an emotional several weeks for me and my family, one full of love and overwhelming gratitude. I am so proud of this legislature for coming together in almost unanimous support of an issue that’s bigger than all of us. This bill has the potential to be the beginning of the eradication of an insidious disease, not for me, but for future generations. That is something we can all be proud of. If we do nothing else this session, and I really want a big bonding bill (‘Is that David or what,’ Bakk interjected), we can all say we’ve accomplished something significant.”
Tomassoni also acknowledged the many people who testified on behalf of the bill, legislators, family, friends and others who helped to move the bill along.
A signing ceremony including Gov. Tim Walz, Tomassoni and his family, Senate and House bill authors, legislative leaders and ALS research advocates took place on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Governor's Reception Room at the state Capitol.
"Today our state is making real progress in the fight against ALS," said Governor Walz. "I'm proud to join Senator David Tomassoni, a bipartisan group of legislators, and advocates who have worked tirelessly to pass this bill for Minnesotans living with ALS and their caregivers. By investing in ALS research and caregiver support, we are moving together toward finding a cure for this disease and better caring for Minnesotans living with ALS and their families."
