States Recognize MS Awareness Week

Many states secured state resolutions or proclamations recognizing Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 2010.

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

So did many cities and towns, such as Chicago, San Diego, Arlington, Va., Bloomington, Ind., and more.

Check with your chapter about advocacy activities that happened in your state for MS Awareness Week.

Urge Your Senators to Support MS Research Funding in the CDMRP

Due to action taken by MS activists at the 2010 Public Policy Conference and back home, over 90 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signaled support for MS research funding within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). That is an extremely impressive amount of support. Now we need your assistance with the Senate. Click here to write your Senators today and ask them to support a $15 million appropriation under the CDMRP for MS research.

97 Members of the House Support MS Research Funding in the CDMRP

The Society is pleased and thankful that 97 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signaled their support for MS research funding within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) by signing on to a Dear Colleague letter circulated by Congressmen Russ Carnahan (MO-3) and Michael Burgess, MD (TX-26).

Such widespread support does not just happen—it is a direct result of the bold and dedicated work of MS activists done both at the recent Public Policy Conference and back home. This is a particularly outstanding achievement, given the many priorities Congress is handling at the moment.

Please take a moment to call or write a thank you to the House Members listed on this page that supported us this year. Stay tuned to learn about and take action on a similar Dear Colleague letter that will be circulated in the Senate!

Final Push for Health Care Reform

Your continued activism is working. Congress this week is again debating and aiming to finalize comprehensive health care reform legislation. MS activists have been engaged from the beginning and must take action once more so that comprehensive health care reform legislation, which will improve the lives of those living with MS, is enacted this year.

Remaining steadfast to the Society's National Health Care Reform Principles, MS activists have sent over 18,000 messages to Capitol Hill and made countless phone calls in support of comprehensive health care reform. Our voice has been heard and many concepts included in the Society's principles have been included in the current health care reform bill, such as:

• Prohibiting discrimination against an individual based on pre-existing health conditions;
• Placing limitations on out-of-pocket costs;
• Providing access to long-term supports and services;
• Expanding the Medicaid program;
• Providing subsidies to those who cannot afford coverage; and
• Eliminating lifetime limits on the amount of coverage a person may receive.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote later this week. Send a message to your Representative and urge him/her to support health care reform today!

2010 Public Policy Conference a Success

The Society’s 19th annual Public Policy Conference was an absolute success and we thank the over 300 MS activists who traveled to Washington to advance our 2010 legislative priorities. Before visiting over 350 offices on Capitol Hill, conference participants were fortunate to see and hear from notable and prominent members of Congress including Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) and Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-2), as well as a keynote address delivered by Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy Kareem Dale.

In addition to program participation, Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Representative Chris Van Hollen (MD-8th), and Governor Jack Markell (DE) each attended to accept the Society’s awards for 2009 Senator, Representative, and Governor of the Year.

During their Capitol Hill visits, activists urged their federal lawmakers to increase MS research funding in the CDMRP; fully fund the Lifespan Respite Care Act; and support the National MS and Parkinson’s Disease Registries Act. The Society also had much needed support from activists back at home, with nearly 2,700 messages sent to reinforce activists’ messages on Capitol Hill. Your work is already paying off, through increased support for our priorities and increased membership in the MS Caucus.

A resounding thank you to all who participated and supported the 2010 Public Policy Conference. Together, we can create a world free of MS.

Move It! During MS Awareness Week and Help Ensure $15 Million for MS Research

It is MS Awareness Week (March 8-14) and a particularly important time for you to Move It! to help secure $15 million for MS research.

The deadline for members of Congress to signal support for MS research funding in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is fast approaching. Take action today and urge your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative to support a $15 million appropriation under the CDMRP that will help scientists to better understand the causes of MS and help find a cure.

This research money is vital because preliminary evidence suggests that Gulf War veterans are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with MS due to exposure to neurotoxins such as gases and other combat related pollutants. Currently, more than 20,000 veterans being treated in the VHA are living with a diagnosis of MS. MS activists have already helped secure nearly $10 million to learn more about these environmental factors. Take action today and build on that momentum so that we can move closer to a world free of MS.

Ask Your Representative to Support MS Awareness Week

March 8-14th is MS Awareness Week. E-mail your U.S. Representative today ask him or her to support a resolution that formally recognizes MS Awareness Week in Congress, H. Res. 1116.

The MS Awareness Week resolution was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (CA-9) and stresses the following important goals of MS Awareness Week: reaffirming our nation's commitment to creating a world free of MS, recognizing people living with MS, and saluting the health care professionals and medical researchers who continue to work toward a world free of MS. The resolution is a true indicator of the collective and bold support for the MS community.

Contact your U.S. Representative today and urge him or her to co-sponsor the MS Awareness Week resolution.

Support MS Activists on Capitol Hill

On Wednesday, March 3, hundreds of MS activists from across the country will meet with their federal legislators on Capitol Hill as part of the National MS Society's annual Public Policy Conference. These important visits are an essential component of the Society's year-long and constant mission to advance public policy that will improve the lives of those living with MS and other chronic conditions.

Take action today and write your members of Congress to support fellow MS activists so that our collective voice is heard.

MS activists will be discussing three priority issues on Capitol Hill:

• MS Research Funding in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP): Emerging evidence indicates a potential link between combat service and an increased incidence of MS. MS activists have been successful in opening a new funding stream for MS research within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), receiving $5 million in FY 2009 and $4.5 million in FY 2010. Ask your members of Congress to support a $15 million appropriation for MS research within the CDMRP by signing the Dear Colleague letter circulated by Congressmen Russ Carnahan (MO-3rd) and Michael Burgess, MD (TX-26th) and Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Jim Bunning (KY).

• National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act: A national MS surveillance system will help ascertain the true incidence and prevalence rates of MS nationwide, which is needed to faciliate research into potential environmental and genetic factors associated with MS. Ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor the National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act (H.R.1362/S.1273).

• Full Funding of Lifespan Respite: Respite care services are vital to ensuring quality home-based care for people living with MS. The Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, but minimal funding has been appropriated over the past three years. Ask your member to support full funding for Lifespan Respite in FY 2011 in the amount of $94.81 million. Your Representative can signal his/her support by signing the Lifespan Respite Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Congressmen Jim Langevin (RI-2) and Lee Terry (NE-2).

Take action today to reinforce our message.