Community advocates, including co-founders Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, along with I AM ALS ambassadors, the late actor Eric Dane, and former professional wrestler Tanea “Rebel” Brooks, jointly achieved this landmark victory, securing up to $500 million in funding and improved treatment accessibility for ALS, while advancing the path toward a cure.
Washington, November 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — I AM ALS and its nationwide network of advocates are celebrating as the President has signed the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act into law. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent just hours before its expiration, while the House had already adjourned. The I AM ALS community first identified a critical gap in access to experimental therapies back in 2021 and jointly drafted the original ACT for ALS Act to address it. Now, with years of impact already underway, the law has been extended for five more years to expand research infrastructure and treatment accessibility, meaning up to $500 million in additional funding for ALS.
“For over seven years, this community has transformed what’s possible in ALS,” said Brian Wallach, co-founder of I AM ALS. “Through the leadership of the I AM ALS community—unlocking over $2 billion in federal ALS research funding, expanding and protecting access to life-changing therapies, and accelerating scientific breakthroughs—we are closer than ever to a cure. We thank our champions in Congress for ALS—including sponsors Senator Coons (D-DE) and Senator Murkowski (R-AK), as well as Representatives Quigley (D-IL-05) and Calvert (R-CA-41)—and all advocates who have worked tirelessly to help renew this historic legislation for five more years.”
The passage of this law is groundbreaking, thanks to the tremendous efforts of the I AM ALS community-led movement. Since the ACT for ALS was first signed into law, I AM ALS has been monitoring and reporting on its groundbreaking implementation outcomes. Ahead of the reauthorization year, I AM ALS organized and launched a comprehensive, multi-pronged advocacy campaign, including:
- Build and strengthen relationships with congressional supporters;
- Mobilize a large number of grassroots volunteer leaders from across the country;
- Collaborating with researchers, other organizations, and celebrity advocates, most notably the late actor Eric Dane and professional wrestler Tanea “Rebel” Brooks, to reinforce and amplify our message; and
- Collaborate with leading experts in government affairs and public relations.
This year alone, I AM ALS conducted over 430 in-person and virtual advocacy meetings and phone calls, generated more than 38,000 online actions, sent over 95,000 emails, and collected more than 20,100 petition signatures in the final weeks before the bill’s expiration.
Unlike any previous legislation in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, the ACT for ALS has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in ALS research, provided experimental treatment opportunities to over 800 patients who would otherwise have been ineligible, and built lasting infrastructure for future research.
“Over the past several months, we not only advanced a critical piece of legislation; we inspired a community that continuously renews itself, welcomes new advocates, cultivates new leaders, and ensures each generation is prepared to fight for the next breakthrough,” said Troy Fields, ALS patient and volunteer co-chair of the I AM ALS Legislative Affairs team. “ALS is ruthless—but so are we.”
“Over the past five years, the ACT for ALS has advanced scientific research and helped ALS patients access promising treatments they need. Reauthorizing this bill continues this vital work and brings hope for a future cure for ALS,” said Representative Quigley. “I am delighted that this important legislation has been signed into law and thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for making this happen.”
“I am pleased that the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act has been signed into law, reaffirming our commitment to finding cures and treatments for ALS,” said Representative Calvert. “As co-chair of the bipartisan ALS Caucus, I understand the immense efforts made by those affected by ALS to push this bill forward, and I commend their tireless advocacy. With the signing of the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act into law, we celebrate this victory while continuing to focus on the work ahead to end this devastating disease.”
I AM ALS urges supporters to visit bit.ly/A4A-TY to thank the congressional supporters who helped make this law possible.
About I AM ALS
I AM ALS is a nonprofit organization, hailed by STAT News as the most successful patient advocacy movement of the century. We have built a community movement aimed at uniting collective power to accelerate the discovery of treatments and a cure for ALS, while creating lasting systemic change. Our focus centers on three key areas:
- Advocate for federal policy changes to advance ALS research, support, and treatment;
- Improve quality of life by providing volunteer and support opportunities for advocates and ALS patients;
- Mobilize and empower advocates to raise public awareness of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and increase visibility of the ALS patient experience.
For more information, visit www.iamals.org
SOURCE I AM ALS