LFA Advocates Successfully Increase Lupus CDC Funding

Your Voices Were Heard!

Thanks to you, Congress has heard how important lupus funding is to their constituents! On Sunday, December 13, 2009, Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010. In this bill there is:

• $4,505,000 for the National Lupus Patient Registry (NLPR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is an increase of $505,000 over FY09 Appropriations.
  
• $1 million to continue the national lupus health education program for physicians and healthcare providers within the Office of Minority Health.

The National Lupus Patient Registry is the most comprehensive epidemiological study on lupus to date which will determine the true national incidence and prevalence of lupus among all populations, as well as uncovering the burden of the disease on individuals, families and society. To date, the NLPR program has received $12.1 million which has been used to create four study sites in California, Georgia, Michigan, New York, and the Indian Health Service.

This bill will now be sent to the President for his signature. On behalf of the Lupus Foundation of America and people with lupus, thank you for making your voices heard!

If you are interested in making your voice heard in person for Fiscal Year 2011 lupus priorities, please join with us on Capitol Hill March 15-16, 2010 for the Lupus Foundation of America’s Advocacy Day! The LFA Annual Advocacy Day provides lupus advocates from across the nation the opportunity to participate in meetings with the offices of their U.S. Senators and Representatives to educate policy makers about lupus and discuss public policies that have an impact on people with lupus. Registration will open in January 2010.