What’s on the ballot?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – election season!
This year, the ballot is packed with 17 constitutional amendments. As is often the case, the bulk of the propositions focus on taxes. But near the end of the list sits an incredibly important amendment – Proposition 14 (Prop 14).
If approved, this special initiative will fund the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), authorizing $3 billion over 10 years, all from the general fund, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Modeled after the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) created in 2007, the Texas Legislature passed DPRIT legislation during the 89th Legislative Session with bipartisan support, giving Texans the opportunity to approve and build the largest state-funded dementia research program in the country.
Texas has proven it can lead in these monumental efforts. CPRIT is fulfilling its promise, with more than 300 cancer researchers and their labs recruited to Texas and almost 11 million prevention services provided to Texans.
We expect no less from DPRIT, and its timing couldn’t be more critical. Age is the No. 1 risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and Texas is getting older. Within the next few years, Texas is projected to have one of the oldest populations in the nation. According to the Alzheimer’s Association:
- 459,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Texas.
- 1.1 million family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Texas.
- $4.3 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.
I was incredibly proud to help lead efforts to pass CPRIT nearly two decades ago, and I could not be more proud to support the vital push to fund DPRIT today. Please join me in voting YES on Proposition 14 on the Nov. 4th ballot. Texas and the world will benefit for years to come.
Sincerely,
Katherine McLane
