Unprecedented Ice Bucket Challenge Goes Presidential

Washington, D.C. (August 20, 2014) — The ALS Association would like to thank President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for showing their continued support for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. In 2008, President Bush signed the National ALS Registry into law (Public Law 110-373) which established the first ever national registry of people living with the disease.

The bill had broad bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives passed the legislation by an overwhelming 415-2 vote, and the Senate passed it by unanimous consent.

President and CEO, Barbara Newhouse said, “In addition to President Bush, we also extend our appreciation to the many other elected officials who took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and continue to support policies that help people who are currently living with Lou Gehrig’s disease.”

The Association championed the National ALS Registry, which was launched in October 2010 by the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and it is the only ALS registry mandated by Congress.

The National ALS Registry, which serves as a research engine, is helping to advance the search for the cause and treatment of ALS through risk factory surveys, connecting people living with ALS to clinical trials and studies, and funding independent research projects. 

To learn more about the National ALS Registry please visit the ALS Registry website at www.cdc.gov/als or The ALS Association’s website at www.alsa.org/registry/.