Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) and the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed legislation today to provide $20 million in grants for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research and $5 million for ALS caregiving. The disease is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the Hall of Fame baseball player who died of ALS. The effort is led by Senator David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) who was diagnosed with ALS last year. 

“Senator David Tomassoni is one of the most selfless people I have ever met,” Jasinski said. “Even after his ALSO diagnosis last year, he has continued to put others before himself. This was his idea: he wanted to fund ALS research and caregivers so that others who are fighting this uphill battle will get some badly needed support. He is always thinking about how he can help others. He is a great man, and I can think of no better tribute than passing this bill in his honor.”

“Lou Gehrig died of ALS in 1941,” Tomassoni said. “Little to no progress in finding a cure has been made since. This bill is a concerted effort to find a cure for ALS. ALS is a neurological disease that saps strength from muscles and ultimately leaves chaos in its wake. In September, I was still driving and able to dress and feed myself. Today I can’t do any of that. The disease progresses differently in different people. Hopefully, this bill will go a long way to finding a permanent stop to any progression whatsoever. It may not happen in my lifetime but the future needs to be full of hope that the next generations will be ALS free.” 

S.F. 3372 gives $20 million to the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to conduct research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It also includes $5 million for ALS caregivers.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and there is no known cure. It ultimately robs people of their ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe. At any given time roughly 450 Minnesotans are living with the disease with the average lifespan of someone diagnosed being two to five years. 

There are six clinics in Minnesota that are currently working on ALS research: Essentia Health (Duluth), HealthPartners (St. Paul), Hennepin Healthcare (Minneapolis), Mayo Clinic (Rochester), the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), and the VA Medical Center (Minneapolis).  

The bill now awaits action by the House of Representatives.