Booker and Scott Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month

WASHINGTON, D.C . — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rick Scott (R-FL) celebrated the passage of a bipartisan resolution designating April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder in the world, bringing progressive challenges with movement, balance, and cognition. Nearly 90,000 Americans receive a diagnosis each year, and more than one million people in the United States are currently living with the disease. Senator Booker, whose father lived with Parkinson’s, has long supported efforts to expand research, strengthen education, and bolster community resources for those affected. This national recognition highlights the urgency of improving care, accelerating scientific discovery, and supporting families who face the disease’s daily realities. The measure designates April 2026 as Parkinson’s Awareness Month and affirms the need to elevate national understanding of the disease, advance research toward improved treatments and ultimately a cure, and recognize the individuals with Parkinson’s who participate in clinical trials that make scientific progress possible. It also commends the organizations, volunteers, researchers, clinicians, and advocates who dedicate themselves to improving the quality of life for those affected. “Parkinson’s is a daily challenge carried by millions of Americans and the families who stand beside them. I saw that up close with my father’s battle with Parkinson’s, and it drives my belief that we cannot accept the status quo,” said Senator Booker. “This bipartisan resolution is a reminder that we must invest in research, education, support for patients and caregivers, and ultimately find a cure.” “More than one million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to bring attention to this horrible disease and recommit ourselves to finding a cure. A diagnosis doesn’t just affect individuals but touches the lives of the families and communities who support and care for their loved ones. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan resolution to raise awareness as we work to research this disease, improve treatment and quality of life for those impacted, and one day find a cure,” said Senator Scott. The resolution emphasizes the profound and far-reaching impact of Parkinson’s disease. Its symptoms can affect nearly every aspect of daily life — from tremors, slowness of movement, and muscle rigidity to balance difficulties, cognitive changes, speech and swallowing challenges, depression, and other serious complications. It also acknowledges the millions of family members, caregivers, and loved ones whose lives are reshaped as they support someone living with this complex and relentless condition. Read the full resolution here.