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The Parkinson's Working Group is a caucus of about 50 Representatives in the Congress who support PD issues on Capitol Hill. The group, lead by Lane Evans (D-IL), Joe Skeen (R-NM), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Fred Upton (R-MI) is sending the attached "Dear Colleague letter" to the Appropriations Committee. Lane Evans, a PWP who is taking a more active role in PD issues this year, is recruiting as many representatives as possible to sign the letter. Jessica Robinson in Lane Evans Office requests that everyone call their representative and ask them to support PD research funding by co-signing the letter. When you call, ask to speak with the Health Care Legislative Assistant in your Representative's office. Tell them why Parkinson's Research is important to you. Ask him/her to contact Jessica about co-signing the letter and/or joining the PD Working Group. The deadline hasn't been set yet, but the letter will be sent in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the help. Perry Cohen Washington DC www.parkinsonscare.org Jessica Robinson Legislative Assistant Office of Congressman Lane Evans 2211 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-5905 202-225-5396 (fax) Draft of Letter: > April 24, 2001 > > A CURE FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE IS WITHIN REACH > > "The scientific community and I believe that with a significant investment > in Parkinson's research, new discoveries and improved treatment strategies > are very close at hand." > - Michael J. Fox on finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease > > Dear Colleague: > > Over the past few years, Parkinson's Disease has received increased public > attention. The heightened awareness of the disease has largely been due to > the publicity brought by the retirement from television of Michael J. Fox > and the service of Janet Reno as Attorney General. However, in the > scientific community, Parkinson's Disease is gaining prominence because of > the recent breakthroughs in managing and treating the disease. > > The Parkinson's community believes recent research holds great promise for > a cure for the disease. They have good reason for their optimism. Patients > with Parkinson's have seen many advances in treatment options in recent > years and the prospects for a cure have become tangible. In fact, a cure > for Parkinson's could be on the horizon with the next ten years if > adequate funding is dedicated to research on the disease. > > Over one million people - young and old, male and female - in America > suffer from Parkinson's disease. This degenerative disorder attacks cells > in the brain, causing a progressive loss of muscle control, leading > eventually to paralysis and death. But, it does not have to end this way. > The National Institute of Health has developed a comprehensive agenda to > aggressively pursue a cure for Parkinson's Disease. This agenda deserves > the support of Congress. > > Please join us in signing the attached letter to the Appropriations > Committee urging full funding for NIH's Parkinson's research agenda in FY > 2002. With this strong commitment, we will bring a cure within reach. > Please contact Jessica Robinson in Rep. Evans' office at 5-5905 or Melissa > Busse in Rep. Skeen's office at 5-2365 to sign the letter or join the > Congressional Parkinson's Working Group. Thank you for your consideration. > > Sincerely, > > > LANE EVANS JOE SKEEN > Member of Congress Member of Congress > > > CAROLYN MALONEY FRED UPTON > Member of Congress Member of Congress > > > > > May XX, 2001 > > > Dear Chairman Regula and Congressman Obey: > > We respectfully request your support for increased federal funding for > medical research in general and Parkinson's Disease research in > particular. Over the years, we have made valuable investments in medical > research by supporting the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The > Parkinson's community is encouraged by these efforts and strongly supports > the doubling of the NIH budget by 2003. This year, it is our hope that we > will continue along this track by funding the NIH at $23.7 billion in > FY02. > > Recent advances in Parkinson's Disease research have given us great hope > that a cure is on the horizon. The science regarding Parkinson's has > advanced to a stage where greater management and coordination of the > federally-funded research effort will accelerate the pace of scientific > progress dramatically, and reasonably soon lead to a cure. In light of > these developments, NIH has developed a five year Parkinson's Disease > research agenda. Last year, Congress funded the first year of this plan. > We urge you to support NIH's research agenda by fully funding the $143.5 > million increase for FY02. > > More than one million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease. NIH's > research agenda gives the best chance for scientists to achieve the > breakthroughs that will lead to effective treatments and eventually a cure > for these individuals. Already, NIH's program is making breakthroughs in > the treatment of Parkinson's disease and serves as an excellent example of > the type of program that is moving us closer everyday toward a cure for > Parkinson's. > > We encourage your continued support of the Parkinson's community. Thank > you for your attention and consideration to this matter. > > > Sincerely, > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn