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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn