Friday, January 8, 2016
MSactivist Connection regarding the 2016 Budget
MS Activist Success in the 2016 Budget
MS Activist Success in
the 2016 Budget
Last month, President Obama
signed into law the Omnibus Appropriations Act, also known as the fiscal year
(FY) 2016 funding bill. MS activists sent more than 14,000 messages and
attended more than 600 in-person meetings with Congress, resulting in approval
of a $1 million - or 20% increase - for the MS Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Program, a $2 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health,
and a $1 million increase to the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Read more about
the 2016 budget’s
impact on the MS movement.
MS Activist Success in
the 2016 Budget
Last month, President Obama
signed into law the Omnibus Appropriations Act, also known as the fiscal year
(FY) 2016 funding bill. MS activists sent more than 14,000 messages and
attended more than 600 in-person meetings with Congress, resulting in approval
of a $1 million - or 20% increase - for the MS Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Program, a $2 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health,
and a $1 million increase to the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Read more about
the 2016 budget’s
impact on the MS movement.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
2016 Federal Budget
Dear Senator
…],
As a
multiple sclerosis (MS) activist, I wanted to reach out to you as you and your
colleagues work towards wrapping up the (FY) 2016 budget. I respectfully ask
you to prioritize medical research funding and maintain the following increases
that have been recommended: $32 billion for the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) and $6 million for the MS Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Program (CDMRP).
MS--an
unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous
system--interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the
brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and
paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person
cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us
closer to a world free of MS.
I am a
Vietnam veteran and a person living with a diagnosis of secondary-progressive
multiple sclerosis. I exhibited my first symptoms (exacerbation) within 7 years
of my discharge. I have NO service connection associated with my disability.
Currently there are no approved therapies for my condition and my level
of disability has progressed to the point that I rely on a wheelchair to
journey outside my home. Yet, the VA in its infinite wisdom has denied my
request to change my priority group designation to group 4, and as of today the
VA has failed to address my appeal of that decision. I am beginning to feel
very ignored!
I
greatly appreciate Congress reaching consensus and passing the Bipartisan
Budget Act, which raises spending caps and allows for more robust investments
in many areas including medical research. The MS Society supports about $50
million annually in MS research projects and sees the NIH as an invaluable
partner in our ultimate goal of ending MS forever. NIH-supported research has
helped make significant progress in understanding MS lesions, analyzing how the
immune system reacts to different stimuli and providing basic research that's
fueled development of FDA-approved MS therapies. The NIH's investment in MS
research has unfortunately decreased by $20 million just in the last 3 years.
Since spending caps have been raised, I urge that Congress provide $32 billion
for the NIH in FY 2016, which is what the Senate Appropriations Committee has
already approved.
The MS
CDMRP is complementary to the NIH, supporting peer reviewed, high-risk,
high-reward research. I urge that Congress provide $6 million for the MS CDMRP,
which the full House approved this summer.
This
funding provides hope to stop the progression of MS, reverse the damage that's
been caused and end MS forever. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
On January 4, 2016 Senator Casey responded:
Dear Mr. Austin:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about federal funding
for medical research, prevention and awareness efforts. I appreciate hearing
from you about this issue.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct vital medical
research that is essential to developing preventive measures, treatments and
cures for common and rare diseases. Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) conduct prevention research, implement public health
strategies and work to promote awareness of health behaviors to create safe and
healthful environments throughout the Nation and the world. Fully funding these
agencies is critical if we are going to continue to lead the world in
biomedical research and to advance vital and cutting-edge research into
prevention of and treatment for chronic conditions and diseases.
I am a proud member of the NIH Caucus, an organization within the
Senate for members who support the work done by the National Institutes of
Health. Furthermore, each year as Congress begins its appropriations process, I
join my colleagues in signing letters to the Appropriations Committee in
support of federal funding for medical research and prevention efforts. Last
year, I authored a bipartisan letter in support of funding for medical research
at the NIH, and was joined by 53 other Senators on this letter.
Ensuring continued adequate funding for medical research is vital
not only for patients, but also for Pennsylvania’s economy and the economic
health of our Nation. For that reason, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of S.
289, the American Cures Act. Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois,
S. 289 would increase funding for the NIH, the CDC, the Department of Defense
Health Program and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program and
ensure that this funding increases every year to account for inflation. S. 298
would also adjust the budget caps put in place by the sequester to ensure that
this funding is not taken from other critical programs. This bill is an
important step in providing for an expanded and sustained national investment
in biomedical research. It has been referred to the Committee on the Budget, of
which I am not a member. Please be assured that I will continue to advocate for
this important legislation.
The final budget for the NIH for Fiscal Year 2016 was about $32
billion. Improving and ensuring health care for all Americans is one of my top
priorities in the Senate, and I will continue to fight for federal funding for
medical research and prevention efforts as part of that goal.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not
hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of
importance to you.
For more information on this or other issues, I encourage you to
visit my website, http://casey.senate.gov.
I hope you will find this online office a comprehensive resource to stay
up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office, or
share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to
Pennsylvania.
Sincerely,
Bob Casey
United States Senator
P.S. If you would like to respond to this
message, please use the contact form on my website: http://casey.senate.gov/contact/
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