Introduction: Brett Favre

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett
Favre told a congressional hearing
Tuesday that he was recently
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,

a degenerative neurological disease
that causes parts of the brain to
deteriorate and impairs his ability to move.

Favre spoke before a House
Budget Committee hearing on welfare
reform about Prevacus, the developer

of an anti-concussion drug
that received $2 million in Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Favre was a lead investor in Prevaux,
and text messages show he approached
government officials in November
2018 to help finance the company.

“Unfortunately, we also lost
an investment in a company
that we thought was developing a breakthrough

concussion treatment that we believed
would help others,” Faber said in his
opening statement. And you can

understand why it’s too late for me because
I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease, which is also a major cause for me.

A 2020 study found that one concussion increases

A 2020 study found that one concussion increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease by 57%, and multiple concussions increase the risk even more.

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) questioned Favre directly about his involvement in Social Security fraud. She asked if Favre had paid the interest White claimed on the TANF funds she received and if she thought it was “acceptable” to divert TANF funds from the women who need them most.

Favre said no to both.

Representative. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) told ESPN that committee chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) asked Favre to testify because of his popularity, despite his lack of TANF experience. Smith did not respond to requests for an interview.

Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Mississippi, who testified at the hearing, pointed to the contrast between ordinary people and celebrities like Favre.

“If someone in Mississippi … is accused of abusing a $50 SNAP benefit, that person’s life can be turned upside down,” Dortch said. “Mr. Favre is here, accused of embezzling a million dollars, testifying before Congress.” If we leave it like that, something is wrong.”