The voices of patient advocates can be electrifying. Consider the following examples:
"I am one of the many millions of Americans who will benefit from biomedical research, made possible by the dollars that you appropriate. I view this invitation to testify as my opportunity to change the world. If I choose the right words, paint the right picture, I hope to give you not only a glimpse of what it's like to have a neurodegenerative disease, but also a sense of the staggering utter despair, frustration, and anger that accompanies such a diagnosis. But the intensity of those emotions pale in comparison to my feelings as I see a potential cure for my affliction dangled in front of me, only to see well-intentioned people limit our brilliant scientists from reaching that goal."1
"1. We all agree on supporting medical research to find cures and treatments--but not in ways that require ...
