Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing for awareness of Lyme disease after he was bitten by a tick during a news conference in the lower Hudson Valley.

Schumer is proposing a bill that will provide $100 million over five years to increase prevention, treatment and research of Lyme disease. ?If Lyme disease is detected early, it's curable and that's what happened to me,? said Schumer.

Westchester County, one of the hardest-hit areas in the state, reported more than 2,500 cases of Lyme disease in the past 10 years. Doctors say the disease could cause neurological damage if it isn't treated.

Pat Smith, of the Lyme Disease Association, says Schumer's legislation, if passed would be a crucial step in the early detection and treatment of the disease.

Related Information Lyme Disease Association