MS Research Funding Now Could Be Decided Thursday

Ask your Representative to Speak in Favor of the MS Amendment

This is your last chance to help secure a federal appropriation to fund multiple sclerosis research. MS activists have been pushing this for months. You signed the petition, you met with your legislators, and you sent e-mails. Now it's time to make a very important final call.
Call 1-800-828-0498 today and ask for your Representative or the staff person who works on appropriations.

Our request for MS research funding unfortunately was not included in the base bill that will be discussed this week in the House of Representatives. However, Congressman Carnahan (MO) is not taking no for an answer and is offering an MS amendment during debate on Thursday to put MS research funding in the bill. In a final attempt to influence this issue, we are asking all members of Congress to support funding for MS research when Congressman Carnahan offers the MS amendment. View the story of one veteran in St. Louis who is living with MS. (if you have trouble viewing this video, try clicking the "refresh" button)

Some points to consider when you call your Representative today:

• As a constituent and an MS activist, I'd like to ask for your support of MS research funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. This request was not honored in the Defense appropriation bill.
  
• But this week Congressman Carnahan will introduce an MS amendment to provide the MS research funding. We need your help by speaking in favor of the MS amendment from the House floor.
  
• More than 25,000 veterans who are being treated through the VA system have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. And a study published in the Annals of Neurology recently identified more than 5,000 cases of MS among U.S. veterans that were deemed "service-connected."
  
• More funding is necessary to explore the possibility that something in the environment could trigger this disease among veterans and other Americans. Thank you.

Call your Representative today. There is no time to waste. This new source of funding could help move us closer to a world free of MS. If you receive feedback when you call that might be helpful, e-mail us at msactivist@nmss.org

Write a Letter to the Editor Supporting MS Research

In our recent survey, a significant number of MS activists said they were interested in writing a letter to the editor. Now is your chance.

We are close to securing a $15 million Defense appropriation for multiple sclerosis research funding. To garner final support, we need to build some nationwide public attention for this issue. If we come together with one voice, and share that message across the country, we can make a difference.

Write a letter to the editor today. Click here and enter your ZIP code to use an easy e-mail format.

Tell your story about how MS has impacted you, your family, or a friend. Are you a veteran living with MS, or do you know one? Tell that story.

Write about 200 words (most papers have a word limit). And send it via e-mail to your local newspaper without delay. We expect a final decision on this issue next week.

Today is the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Help Restore Its Original Intent

In recent years, the intent of the ADA has eroded — often not providing enough protection for individuals with disabilities. Help commemorate the anniversary today by helping restore its primary intent.

Ask your Representative to support people who live with disabilities and cosponsor the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. Click here and enter your ZIP code to send a quick e-mail.

This bill aims to restore the ADA's clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability. In recognition of the ADA, Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD) and James Sensenbrenner (WI) are expected to introduce the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 today.

Restore Intent of Americans with Disabilities Act

Thursday, July 26 marks the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In recent years however, the intent of this law has eroded — often not providing enough protection for individuals with disabilities.

Help commemorate the anniversary of the ADA by helping restore its primary intent. Ask your Representative to support people who live with disabilities and become an original cosponsor the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. Click here and enter your ZIP code to send a quick e-mail.

This bill aims to restore the ADA's clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability. In recognition of the ADA, Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD) and James Sensenbrenner (WI) will introduce the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 on Thursday.

Background
People with multiple sclerosis manage their symptoms with medication to help prevent or ease their disability. But that can sometimes make them appear too functional and preclude them for ADA protection from employment or other discrimination. Because of recent Supreme Court and other court decisions, the ADA no longer creates a level playing field for people with disabilities in the workplace and in our communities, as intended. For example, often employers claim a person is too disabled to do the job, but not disabled enough for protection under the ADA.

The bi-partisan ADA Restoration Act will amend the ADA to focus on whether a person has experienced discrimination "on the basis of disability," rather than requiring individuals with disabilities to first demonstrate that they are substantially limited in some major life activity.

Support the ADA. Act now and urge your Representative to become an original cosponsor of the ADA Restoration Act.

Veterans Speak Out on Funding for MS Research

"We need this funding in the worst kind of way," said Buddy Hayes, the reigning Ms. Wheelchair Virginia. Hayes, a 49-year-old Chesapeake woman who served in the Army in the 1970s, was diagnosed with MS in 2003, after she lost the use of her legs. "If anybody thinks we don't need the funding, I've got two old, clunker wheelchairs in the garage. They can come and take them and see what it's like for one day."


This is an excerpt from an article that ran in the Sunday issue of the Daily Press in Hampton Roads, Va., by reporter Stephanie Heinatz. Click here to read the entire story.

Congress currently is considering a $15 million Defense appropriation that would help fund related research into the potential triggers and treatments of MS. Click here to take action on this issue.

Announcing New Congressional MS Caucus

Ask Your Representative to Join

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is pleased to announce the formation of a new Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO) and Congressman Michael Burgess (TX) have stepped forward as leaders and co-chairs of the new MS Caucus. For the Caucus to be effective, we now need additional Representatives to join. Click here and enter your ZIP code to ask your Representative to join the MS Caucus.

The MS Caucus provides you, as an MS activist, with champions in Congress to count on for leadership and support of MS issues. It will help bolster our advocacy efforts and give us an even more effective presence on Capitol Hill.

The bi-partisan MS Caucus will serve as a forum for Members of Congress, their staff, related organizations, and individuals to discuss critical health care, disability, research, and other issues affecting people living with MS and other conditions. It will raise awareness and seek creative solutions to help us move closer to a world free of MS. Congressional caucuses are common and focus on a variety of issues from specific disease groups to wine making, but the MS Caucus is the first of its kind.

Senator Byrd Advances Funding for New MS Center

The first comprehensive center for multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care in West Virginia could soon be built, thanks to Senator Robert Byrd. But this project still needs to make it through Congress. If you live in West Virginia, click here and enter your ZIP code to send a quick e-mail to Senator Byrd. Thank him and ask for his ongoing attention to this effort.

The Senator has incorporated $4 million in funding to the FY 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (S. 1710) for the development of a multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disease research center at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va. Now, we're focused on helping pass the bill.

This new MS center at WVU holds great promise for people living with MS not only in West Virginia but nationwide. The debate continues on the funding bill and support is still needed to approve it. We will keep you updated as this moves forward.

Pennsylvanians Urge Rep. Murtha to Support MS Research

Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania has the authority to make new funding for MS research a reality, as head of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The $15 million appropriation for MS research is currently being discussed by his committee. Leaders of the Allegheny District Chapter of the Society in Pennsylvania wrote a letter to the editor encouraging the Congressman's support.


Click here and scroll down to read the complete letter to the editor in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today.

New PSA Raises Awareness for Veterans with MS

A new public service announcement (PSA) about veterans living with multiple sclerosis (MS) could be running on radio and television stations in your area. It aims to raise awareness about Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) assistance for veterans living with MS as well as available research and educational information about the disease. While the National MS Society was not involved in the development of the PSA, we support the Paralyzed Veterans of America in this outreach. Click here to view the PSA. To learn more about PVA, visit www.pva.org

MS Activist's Letter on Biologic MS Drugs Runs in Ohio Paper

Pam Rice writes:

I live with multiple sclerosis and rely on a drug called Avonex, an injectable drug I give myself once a week. I've been using Avonex for almost 10 years and credit it for preventing further progression of my MS.

Many people in Ohio live with devastating, incurable diseases like MS and cancer. Unfortunately, the cost of biologic treatments can be so staggering that many stop their prescribed therapy because they cannot afford it ...

I support the Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act (S. 623, H.R. 1038) that would provide this statutory pathway and help make critical medicines more available and more affordable to people who need them most.

Click here to read the complete letter to the editor in the Toledo Blade.

Last Opportunity to Influence the Federal Appropriation for MS Research

The federal appropriation to help fund multiple sclerosis (MS) research is in the homestretch. MS activists have been pushing this for months. You signed the petition, you visited your legislators on Capitol Hill and in their district office, and last week you sent e-mails.

An MS Action Alert went out today regarding this issue. In a final attempt to help persuade members to support MS research funding, we asked MS activists whose representatives are on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to call and encourage their support. Those key legislators could help advance the appropriation at the right time. Click here to see if your representative is on the committee.

This could be the last opportunity to influence this issue. This week, the Subcommittee is expected to debate the $15 million federal appropriation for MS research through the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), administered by the Department of Defense. This new source of funding could help move us closer to a world free of MS. We will continue to keep you updated as this issue progresses.

Boston Globe Runs "Middle Road" Editorial on Biologics Issue

The Boston Globe covered the follow-on biologics (also called generic biologics) issue in a "middle road" editorial this week. It appropriately supports a regulatory pathway to safe, effective, comparable versions of costly biologic drugs for people living with MS and other diseases who need them. At the same time, it supports the need for competition in encouraging innovation. Click here to read the full editorial.