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Christopher Reeve Promoting Legislation to Fund Paralysis Research

Aired May 08, 2003 - 05:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Actor Christopher Reeve is promoting legislation to fund paralysis research. The $400 million measure named after Reeve would also pay for rehabilitation and quality of life programs.
Reeve spoke about it with Judy Woodruff.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're told that some in the brain injury advocacy community say yes, it's good to spend money on research for a cure down the road, but what about the people today who don't have resources, who need help, who need support?

How do you make that very difficult choice between what's, which is more important?

CHRISTOPHER REEVE, ACTOR: Well, all are equally important and this bill addresses all three phases of need. One is research towards a cure. The other is rehabilitation research. And the third, and probably the most important right now, is quality of life, and that's today. That's about jobs, recreation, transportation, the opportunities to be included in society. And this bill would blanket the 50 states then make sure that people who are denied access to things that they should have, for a better quality of life today get what they need.

And it also would send a signal if it passes -- I don't know if it will -- and it's appropriated, which is the other part of it -- it would send a signal that the federal government cares about two million Americans who have been left in the margins for far too long.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can hear all of Judy's interview with Christopher Reeve on "Live From Washington" later today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific Time.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Research>


Aired May 8, 2003 - 05:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Actor Christopher Reeve is promoting legislation to fund paralysis research. The $400 million measure named after Reeve would also pay for rehabilitation and quality of life programs.
Reeve spoke about it with Judy Woodruff.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're told that some in the brain injury advocacy community say yes, it's good to spend money on research for a cure down the road, but what about the people today who don't have resources, who need help, who need support?

How do you make that very difficult choice between what's, which is more important?

CHRISTOPHER REEVE, ACTOR: Well, all are equally important and this bill addresses all three phases of need. One is research towards a cure. The other is rehabilitation research. And the third, and probably the most important right now, is quality of life, and that's today. That's about jobs, recreation, transportation, the opportunities to be included in society. And this bill would blanket the 50 states then make sure that people who are denied access to things that they should have, for a better quality of life today get what they need.

And it also would send a signal if it passes -- I don't know if it will -- and it's appropriated, which is the other part of it -- it would send a signal that the federal government cares about two million Americans who have been left in the margins for far too long.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can hear all of Judy's interview with Christopher Reeve on "Live From Washington" later today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific Time.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Research>