ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz signed a $25 million bill for research into the degenerative brain disease ALS – a bill that was authored by a state senator who himself is suffering the disease. The legislation includes $5 million to help families care for ALS patients. State Senator David Tomassoni, of Chisholm, who is 69, announced last year he has the disease and and proposed the new state research funding. This session, as the disease has progressed rapidly, Tomassino has participated in most Senate business remotely.
Verbatim
Walz: “I’m proud to join Senator David Tomassoni, a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates who have worked tirelessly to pass this bill for Minnesotans living with ALS and their caregivers. By investing in ALS research and caregiver support, we are moving together toward finding a cure for this disease and better caring for Minnesotans living with ALS and their families.”
Tomassino. In Legislature since since 1993, first in the House and later the Senate. He was a Democrat until 2020 when he declared himself an independent.
Ice hero. Tomassino played professional hockey 16 years. He was on the Italian national team at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
ALS profile
In medical terminology it’s amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. More commonlyy it’s called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease for the New York Yankees first baseman in the 920s and 1930s. Gehrig was known as the Iron Horse for his prowess and grit. The disease is related to Alzheimers, another progressive degenerative brain disease. Neither is well understood.