  |
|
 |
|
| |||||
|
 Representative
To find you Senator |
UPDATE on Current Advocacy Inititatives-Report
Advocacy Committee keeps the pressure on Congress and Executive agencies by Stanley M. Finger, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board, and Chair of the Advocacy Committee, AARDA - Published in the June 2006, VOl. 14 No. 2 issue of InFocus
The Autoimmune Diseases Associations Advocacy Committee has been wonderfully busy since the latest InFocus! Our biggest project was supporting Autoimmune Disease Day, the Congressional Briefing, and the constituent visits to Congress in March. This huge undertaking was a marvelous success, thanks to the teamwork of the entire ADA organization! The Advocacy Committee worked very closely with the staff of Rep. Roy Blunt (R-7th MO) on the NIH Reauthorization Bill. We requested specific language supporting trans-Institute autoimmune disease research benefiting the entire spectrum of autoimmune diseases. We also requested an Office of Autoimmune Disease Research within the Director’s planned Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives. The Reauthorization Bill was put on hold while the House decided on a successor to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-22nd TX) as Majority Whip (Mr. Blunt was a strong contender). The Hill buzz is that the NIH Reauthorization Bill will be a top priority during the current congressional session. We submitted desired language for the FY 2007 Appropriations Bills for NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ). The NIH language highlights the accomplishments of its Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee (ADCC) and also requests increased funding for integrated AD research. The CDC language requests support to increase autoimmune disease awareness among the public and the medical community. The AHRQ language requests a study of the direct and indirect financial impacts of autoimmune diseases on the country’s healthcare system and overall economic health. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-1st RI) will again bring up the Prevention, Awareness, and Research Autoimmune Disease Act (PARAID). The Bill supports multipronged approaches to increase awareness of and research on autoimmune diseases. We are working closely with Rep. Kennedys staff to get cosponsors (especially Republicans), a necessary step before introducing the Bill. I was invited to give a presentation to the NIH Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee on the importance of NIH’s “Biennial Report of Progress on Autoimmune Disease Research.” The ADCC prepares this report every two years. Its preparation requires a lot of work all across the NIH. I pointed out the many accomplishments that were based on the information provided in the report, e.g., the surprisingly high prevalence of autoimmune diseases and the low (but growing) funding for integrated autoimmune disease research. The information in the biennial report is critical to ADA and the individual autoimmune disease organizations to ensure continued congressional support for crosscutting autoimmune disease research. The presentation was well received, and we hope that this treasure-trove of autoimmune disease information will continue to be a valuable authoritative resource well into the future.
|
|
[ Home | Patient Information | Take our Survey | About AARDA | Request Information | Subscribe to InFocus| Research Reports| View InFocus Articles | Press Releases | Advocacy Issues | Links | Fundraising For Research |Q & A | Contribute| Upcoming Events | | Contact Information | Autoimmunity Blog | Autoimmunity Forum | Copyright: 2004 - 2010, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. |
