WASHINGTON – November 03, 2026 -- The President has signed the ACT for ALS reauthorization bill into law, extending the program for five years and committing up to an additional $500 million to ALS research infrastructure and investigational treatment access, according to patient advocacy group I AM ALS.

Senate passes bill by unanimous consent hours before the law expires

The Senate approved the reauthorization by unanimous consent with only hours left before the existing law lapsed. The House had already gone home early. The original ACT for ALS Act was co-authored by I AM ALS in 2021 to close a gap in access to investigational treatments.

Sponsors of the reauthorization are Senators Coons (D-DE) and Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Quigley (D-IL-05) and Calvert (R-CA-41). Calvert co-chairs the bipartisan ALS Caucus.

First five-year term funded hundreds of millions and gave 800+ patients therapy access

I AM ALS says ACT for ALS has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in ALS research. It has provided investigational therapy access to more than 800 patients who would not otherwise have qualified, and it has built infrastructure for future studies.

Co-founder Brian Wallach said the community's advocacy has unlocked more than $2 billion in federal ALS research funding over the past seven-plus years.

Advocacy campaign logged 430 meetings and 95,000 emails this year

I AM ALS ran a multi-pronged campaign ahead of the expiration deadline. Its components were:

• Building relationships with congressional champions
• Deploying volunteer leaders nationwide
• Partnering with researchers, other organizations and ambassadors, including the late actor Eric Dane and former professional wrestler Tanea "Rebel" Brooks
• Engaging government affairs and public relations experts

This year, the group held more than 430 in-person and virtual advocacy meetings and calls. It secured more than 38,000 online actions and sent more than 95,000 emails. In the final weeks before expiration, it gathered more than 20,100 petition signatures.

Lawmakers tie renewal to the pursuit of a cure

Rep. Calvert said the signing renews "our commitment to finding cures and treatments for ALS." Rep. Quigley said the bill has advanced scientific research and helped people with ALS access promising treatments over the past five years.

Troy Fields, volunteer co-chair of the I AM ALS legislative affairs team and a person living with ALS, said the campaign has built a community that develops new leaders and prepares each generation for the next breakthrough.