Subject: MS Research Funding - ACTION ALERT

From:

Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 17:38:55 EDT

Hello Advocates:

There is hope for funding for MS research and, yes, one day a cure for MS.

CALL YOUR SENATORS AND URGE THEIR SUPPORT OF SPECTER-HARKIN NIH FUNDING AMENDMENT

September 2, 2003

NEED FOR ACTION: As reported in our last alert, following the FY'99 -'03 NIH budget doubling effort, NIH is facing its lowest budget increase in years. The latest news is that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) are introducing a bipartisan amendment to add an additional $1.5 billion to the FY'04 NIH budget. The Society supports the Specter-Harkin amendment which would bring total NIH funding close to the $30 billion MS advocates nationwide have been supporting.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Specter-Harkin amendment and potentially finish the NIH budget this week! MS Research needs this additional funding for NIH.

The Society is very concerned that the current House and Senate funding levels will impede the momentum of the doubling effort and threaten the stability of the medical research enterprise.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:
Call your Senators immediately, and ask them to:

* Support the Specter-Harkin Amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill to adequately fund NIH in FY'04.

* Tell your Senators why MS research is important to you/your family. So little is known about the cause of MS and appropriate treatments that it is imperative Congress maintain the momentum of support for NIH research.

HERE ARE OUR ILLINOIS SENATORS' PHONE NUMBERS:

Sen. Dick Durbin
Chicago Office...................312-353-4952
Springfield Office................217-492-4062
Marion Office.....................618-998-8812
Washington, D.C. Office.....202-224-2152

Sen. Peter Fitzgerald
Chicago Office...................312-886-3506
Springfield Office................217-492-5089
Washington, D.C. Office.....202-224-2854

Thanks, as always,

Yolanda Treiguts, Chair
Advocacy/Government Relations Committee
Greater Illinois Chapter
National Multiple Sclerosis Society