HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES $5 MILLION FOR MS RESEARCH IN THE CDMRP

On May 17th, the House Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year 2013 Defense Appropriations bill that includes funding for MS research in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The Committee approved $5 million for MS research—which is an increase over FY 2012’s funding level of $3.8 million. The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program that funds high-risk, high-reward research.

At the Society’s 2012 Public Policy Conference in March, MS activists urged their federal lawmakers to support $10 million for MS research in FY 2013. Representatives Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) and Russ Carnahan (MO-3) championed a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter that with urging from MS activists around the country, 66 other Representatives signed on to supporting $10 million for MS research in the CDMRP. The Society is very pleased with the Committee’s recommendation for $5 million for MS research. In the continued difficult budget climate, programs are typically flat funded if not decreased. The Senate is expected to begin working on its Defense Appropriations bill in the near future, so a lot of work remains—but in the meantime, this is great news for MS research funding. Great work, MS activists!