message from John Rogers, Advocacy Director, Parkinson's Action Network

[ He is referring to Perry Cohen's message, 4/30/01,
Subject: Full Funding for the NIH Parkinson's Research Agenda]


Earlier this week you were asked to contact your member of Congress in
support of the letter by the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's in
support of NIH funding as part of the labor HHS appropriations Bill.  If
you've already done this, thank you.  If not please do so as soon as you
can.  Time is of the essence here.

In addition, when you are communicating with your Congressional office, it
would be much appreciated if you would also ask for their support of the
Department of Defense Neurotics Exposure Treatment (NETRP).  This is a very
robust program that the Congressional Working Group is also supporting.
Today they sent Chairman Jerry Lewis and Congressman John Murtha a letter
requesting funding.  We want your representatives to contact Mr. Lewis and
Murtha's office in support of the request.  Below are the letters that were
sent to Misters Lewis and Murtha.

We want to reiterate the importance of contacting your Congressperson.
Hearing from people who have Parkinson's, their families and friends is the
most effective way to get support.  SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE
THE TIME TO CALL OR WRITE.  Again for your convenience, the Congressional
switchboard number is 202-224-3121.  If you wish to write your
Congressperson you can use the following format:

Representative _________________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

If you don't know the name of your member of Congress, please feel free to
call the Parkinson's Action Network Washington office at 703-518-8600.  The
phone will be answered by PACE-Capstone as that is the office where PAN
will be located in the Washington area.  Ask for Erik or Laura and they'd
be happy to help.

Thank you again for your time and effort.

John Rogers, Advocacy Director
Parkinson's Action Network

******************************
[FYI: letter from the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease]

May 1, 2001

The Honorable Jerry Lewis, Chairman
Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense

The Honorable John Murtha, Ranking Member
Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense

H-149 Capitol Building/ 1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Lewis/Congressman Murtha,

As leaders of the House Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease,
we applaud your Subcommittee's past commitment to the US Army Medical
Research and Material Command's Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research
Program (NETRP), and urge you to appropriate $50 million for the program in
FY 2002.

Your Subcommittee established the NETRP in FY 1997 to investigate the
mechanisms and treatments of neurodegenerative disease -- with specific
emphasis on Parkinson's disease -- to prevent, detect, and treat
environmental toxicity that may result from exposure to military threat
agents and operational hazards.  This unique program evaluates proposals
through a rigorous peer review process while considering potential military
relevance -- avoiding inefficiency and delivering the vast majority of its
federal funding to research rather than administration.

Parkinson's disease is only one focus of the Military Operational Medicine
research program at the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
(USAMRMC) that benefits our servicemen and women.  The understanding of
triggers for Parkinson's and related neurodegenerative diseases in
susceptible individuals is of great importance to protecting the health of
military men and women.  In operational environments, young men and women
are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, radiofrequency radiation, and
other stressors that may be significant in promoting disease many years
later.  Knowledge of how this disease occurs and how it may be effectively
managed and possibly cured provides the DoD with information on how to
protect soldiers through appropriate materiel design, avoidance of
unnecessary harmful exposures, and prevention with neuroprotective drugs.
Sensitive diagnostic methods that provide earlier detection of nerve cell
loss also provide early indications of operationally-relevant impairments
of soldier performance.  Novel treatments that prove effective in
preserving or restoring nerve cell function will transition rapidly to NIH
clinical trials.  Discovery of modes of injury and harmful environmental
exposures that promote nerve cell dysfunction will also assist NIEHS and
EPA for development of appropriate health risk assessment methods.

The heroes who battle Parkinson's disease on a daily basis also benefit
from research conducted through the NETRP.  Scientists from leading
universities across the country are engaged in exciting and productive
research supported by the NETRP.  For example, the NETRP-funded scientists
are focusing on:
-- Mechanisms of damage and protection against neural cell death;
-- Development and validation of new approaches to neuropsychological
testing to improve early detection of neurodegenerative diseases;
-- New therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease;
-- Influence of environmental factors.

Only through increased funding of excellent research such as this can we
hope to solve the mysteries surrounding the causes of neurodegeneration and
find optimal strategies for treatment and prevention.

In the last two years, the NERTP has funded over $60 million in peer review
grants.  There is tremendous excitement in the scientific community about
this program -- but researchers describe immense frustration with the
halting pace of research breakthroughs as a result of inadequate funding.
Clearly, now is the time to invest in expanding the NETRP.  Our request of
$50 million is based upon solid analysis by those associated with the
program.

We offer the strongest support for funding the Department of Defense
peer-reviewed Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program at $50 million
for fiscal year 2002.

We commend your leadership in ensuring that this essential program expands
to fulfill its promise of prevention and treatment for soldiers and victims
of Parkinson's and other neurological disorders.  The war on disabling
neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's is one that we can and must win.

Sincerely,

Lane Evans
Member of Congress

Carolyn Maloney
Member of Congress

Fred Upton
Member of Congress

cc:  Rep. Joe Skeen
Jessica Robinson
Legislative Assistant
Office of Congressman Lane Evans
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5905
202-225-5396 (fax)

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