The Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) successfully held its 2nd annual reception in the US Capitol on Thursday, September 15, 2005. The Congressional Co-Sponsors of the event were Senators Gordon Smith and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congressmen Bill Young and Chet Edwards.  

The presence of the many congressional members and staffers among our many invited guests who attended the reception served as a pivotal moment and contribution towards understanding Tourette Syndrome (TS) and the people and families living with it. Remarks and acknowledgement of our association, distinguished guest speakers and individuals living with TS was made by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) and Harry Reid (NV), House Representatives Pete Sessions (TX), Chet Edwards (TX), Brian Baird (WA), and Steny Hoyer (MD). The importance of the event was to highlight the works of the many partnerships TSA has entered in raising awareness of this inherited neurobiological disorder and highlighting the premiere of the HBO program "I Have Tourette's But Tourette's Doesn't Have Me," to be aired Saturday, November 12, 2005.

Monte Redman, Chairman of the TSA Board of Directors officially welcomed guests who thanked Congress for its generous support for TSA activities, particularly appropriating funds for the past two years toward a joint TSA and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project of TS medical and professional education and research.  "The important project represents a milestone in the diagnosis and treatment of TS and has already created a significant and positive impact for helping all Americans touched by the disorder," he said.

TSA Board of Director, Bruce Ochsman, also spoke eloquently and explained what it was like growing up with TS and how he continues to cope with the disorder today. 

Dr. Harvey Singer, member of TSA’s Medical Advisory Board and Director of the Pediatric Neurology Program, Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins explained how TSA is funding and working with researchers worldwide on the cause and the cure.  “We are making progress It’s easy for us to say that it’s inherited, but it stops there. We think it’s chemicals within the brain. Lots of people are working very hard at this.”

Harvey Singer, MD with TSA President  Judit Ungar	Congressman Steny Hoyer	Senate Minority Leader Senator Harry Reid

There were approximately 35 to 40 staffers from both the Senate and the House that attended.  We made several new friends and improved our relationships with old ones.

The committee that put this event together consisted of: Jane Ochsman, Nancy Thomas Baker, Marcie Kirkpatrick Lipsitz and Lucy Buckley.

To read about last year's congressional reception, click here.

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