Forwarded from Parkinson's Action Network:

From: "LauraJane Cohen" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 19:22:03 -0500
Subject: Action Alert--The NETRP Program Needs Your Help!

Action Alert!

 Yep, it’s that time of year again when our Members of Congress decide
where our tax dollars will go.

We’d like to ask that, once again, you encourage your U.S.
Representatives and U.S. Senators to support the U.S. Army

Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program (NETRP).  This program is
an important biomedical research initiative that is vital for the
long-term health of our military as well as patients who suffer from
neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ALS.

Established in 1997, the NETRP focuses on biomedical research designed to
not only improve the treatment of neurological diseases, but also aims to
identify the causes of disease and prevent them.  The results of this
research provide the Department of Defense with information on how best
to protect military personnel and minimize or eliminate future exposures
to toxic substances or harmful situations.  Currently, the program has 79
projects underway in 22 states (AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY,
LA, MA, MD, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, and WI).

But the benefits of the program don't stop there.  The findings from
NETRP research projects have broad implications for the greater
population as any research breakthroughs may be immediately applied to
the civilian population as well-particularly to those one million
Americans with Parkinson's disease and the 60,000 who are newly diagnosed
each year.

Furthermore, as the baby boomers begin to retire at the end of this
decade, neurodegenerative diseases are expected to surpass cancer as the
second leading cause of death among the elderly by 2040.  When funds are
invested, the return is dramatic- both lives and money are saved.

Please ask your U.S. Rep and U.S. Senators to show your support of the
NETRP by signing the attached letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee
on Defense.

If your Representatives would like to sign the letter or have further
questions, they may contact Mandy Wimmer in Congressman Lane Evans’
office at 202-225-5905 or Orly Isaccson in Congresswoman Maloney’s office
at 202-225-7944.

If your Senators would like to sign on to the letter or would like to
join the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, they may contact
James Nelson in Senator Gordon Smith’s office at 202-224-3753 or Oliver
Kim of Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office at 202-224-4822.

U.S. Representatives who have signed the letter as of 3-18-04: Baldwin
(WI), Delahunt (MA), Evans (IL), Frost (TX), G. Green (TX), Grijalva
(AZ), Gutierrez (IL), Hastings (WA), Langevin (RI), Maloney (NY),
Schakowsky (IL), Snyder (AR), Strickland (OH), M Udall (CO), Van Hollen
(MD), Waxman (CA), Kildee (MI), Nadler (NY), McGovern (MA), Tom Udall
(NM), Markey (MA), and Sanford Bishop (GA) .
U.S. Senators who have signed the letter as of 3-18-04: Gordon Smith
(OR), Stabenow (MI)

Below, please find copies of the U.S. House letter and the U.S. Senate
letter.

Thank you for your help!  Together we will make a difference!

Best-

Laura Jane

Laura Jane Cohen
Director of Outreach
Parkinson's Action Network
1000 Vermont Ave., NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
ph: 202-842-4101 or 800-850-4726

fax: 202-842-4105

[log in to unmask]

www.parkinsonsaction.org

 (U.S. House Letter)

March 17, 2004

Help Protect Our Solders and Sailors:

Support the U.S. Army Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program

Dear Colleague:

We encourage you to lend your support to an important biomedical research
initiative that is vital for the long-term health of our military as well
as patients who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ALS.

Soldiers and sailors are routinely put in harm's way during both active
duty and National Guard training, including daily exposures to toxic
chemicals, such as pesticides and jet fuel, and low level radiation, from
sonar and radar, as well as at placed at risk of head and other bodily
injuries.  Scientific studies have found that these everyday exposures
along with head injuries put our troops at an increased risk for
developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, ALS, and
Alzheimer's--all of which cause permanent loss of brain and nerve cells.
These actions in turn affect the overall readiness of our forces.

Established in 1997, the U.S. Army Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research
Program (NETRP) focuses on biomedical research designed to not only
improve the treatment of neurological diseases, but also aims to identify
the causes of disease and prevent them.  The results of this research
provide the Department of Defense with information on how best to protect
military personnel and minimize or eliminate future exposures to toxic
substances or harmful situations.  Currently, the program has 79 projects
underway in 22 states (AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, LA, MA,
MD, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, and WI).

But the benefits of the program don't stop there.  The findings from
NETRP research projects have broad implications for the greater
population as any research breakthroughs may be immediately applied to
the civilian population as well-particularly to those one million
Americans with Parkinson's disease and the 60,000 who are newly diagnosed
each year.

Furthermore, as the baby boomers begin to retire at the end of this
decade, neurodegenerative diseases are expected to surpass cancer as the
second leading cause of death among the elderly by 2040.  When funds are
invested, the return is dramatic- both lives and money are saved.

We encourage you to show your support of the NETRP by signing the
attached letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.  If you
would like to sign the letter or have further questions, please contact
Mandy (Evans) at 5-5905 or Orly (Maloney) at 5-7944.

Sincerely,
LANE EVANS                                    CAROLYN MALONEY
        MARK UDALL

Member of Congress                            Member of Congress
                  Member of Congress


March XX, 2004

The Honorable Jerry Lewis
      The Honorable John Murtha

Chairman
                Ranking Member

Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense
Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense

H-149 Capitol Building
         1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC  20002
      Washington, DC  20515

Dear Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha:

We applaud the continued strong support the Subcommittee on Defense has
shown for the U.S. Army Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Program (NETRP).
In order to allow this outstanding peer-reviewed program to continue its
important research efforts, we urge the Subcommittee to appropriate $57
million for the NETRP in Fiscal Year 2005.  Funding at this level will
allow the Army to continue this important, beneficial work with the
potential to simultaneously expedite the discovery process and
significantly advance the science of neurology, while enhancing military
readiness.

As you are aware, during both active and reserve training, our service
members are routinely exposed to a wide range of external stressors and
toxins, including jet fuel, radar, sonar, lasers, pesticides, and
herbicides.  Scientists believe that these everyday exposures-coupled
with a risk of head injury-increase the risk for soldiers and sailors of
developing neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Parkinson's
disease, but also Alzheimer's, and ALS.

Knowledge of how these exposures occur, the incidence of disease
afterwards, and how these conditions may be effectively treated, cured,
or prevented provides the Department of Defense with information on how
to best protect military personnel and minimize the risk of future
exposures--which contributes to higher levels of military preparedness.
Currently, the NETRP has 79 research projects in 22 states.

However, the military is not the only recipient of the benefits of the
NETRP, as any research breakthroughs may be immediately applied to
civilians-particularly those one million Americans who already have
Parkinson's disease and the 60,000 who are newly diagnosed each year.

When funds are invested, the return is dramatic.  We can say with
confidence that the NETRP will save lives.  Parkinson's disease costs the
United States at least an estimated $25 billion a year in direct health
related expenses, disability costs (including veterans), and lost
productivity - the investment is cost-effective in the long run.
Moreover, those figures will only increase with time as neurodegenerative
diseases are expected to surpass cancer as the second leading cause of
death among the elderly by 2040.

We commend your leadership strongly supporting the NETRP and urge an
appropriation of $57 million.  This amount will allow it to continue
fulfilling its promise of prevention and treatment for military
personnel, as well as provide hope for those Americans who suffer from
Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.

Sincerely,


(U..S. Senate Letter)

 March XX, 2004

The Honorable Ted Stevens
     The Honorable Daniel Inouye

Chairman
                Ranking Member

Appropriations Committee
      Appropriations Committee

Subcommittee on Defense
      Subcommittee on Defense

119 Dirksen Senate Office Building
   117 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC  20510
      Washington, DC  20510



Dear Chairman Stevens and Raking Member Inouye:

We applaud the continued strong support your Subcommittee has shown for
the U.S. Army Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Program (NETRP).  In order to
allow this outstanding peer-reviewed program to continue its important
research efforts, we urge the Subcommittee to appropriate $57 million for
the NETRP in Fiscal Year 2005.  Funding at this level will allow the Army
to continue this important, beneficial work with the potential to
simultaneously expedite the discovery process and significantly advance
the science of neurology, while enhancing military readiness.

As you are aware, during both active duty and National Guard training,
American troops are routinely exposed to a wide range of external
stressors and toxins, including jet fuel, radar, sonar, lasers,
pesticides, herbicides, and head injuries.  Scientists believe that these
everyday exposures increase the risk for soldiers and sailors of
developing neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Parkinson’s
disease, but also Alzheimer’s, and ALS.

This research provides the Department of Defense with information on how
to best protect military personnel and minimize the risk of future
exposures--which contributes to higher levels of military preparedness.


However, the military is not the only recipient of the benefits of the
NETRP, as any research breakthroughs may be immediately applied to
civilians—particularly those one million Americans who already have
Parkinson’s disease and the 60,000 who are newly diagnosed each year.

When funds are invested, the return is dramatic.  We can say with
confidence that the NETRP will save lives.  Parkinson’s disease costs the
United States at least an estimated $25 billion a year in direct health
related expenses, disability costs (including veterans), and lost
productivity – the investment is cost-effective in the long run.
Moreover, those figures will only increase with time as neurodegenerative
diseases are expected to surpass cancer as the second leading cause of
death among the elderly by 2040.

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