FPN Advocates for Peripheral Neuropathy Research Funding
Ongoing, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (FPN) has been working with a consultant to advocate for more federal funding for peripheral neuropathy research. With the election almost behind us, we again are looking to ramp up our efforts.
Update on the 2021 Appropriations Bill
On November 10, 2020, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released their version of the fiscal year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act. We are excited to report that this legislation includes “peripheral neuropathy” among the conditions eligible for research under the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).
Why Advocate for Peripheral Neuropathy Research Funding?
Earlier this year, our community contacted their Members of Congress to encourage them to support including peripheral neuropathy in the PRMRP. Thanks to these efforts, we have overcome a significant hurdle but we’re not across the finish line yet.
The next steps in this process will likely be that the Senate will bypass the normal committee and floor process. Senate may go straight to conferencing with the House on a final, giant omnibus budget bill. If Congress does not complete action on the bills by December 11, it may instead pass another short-term budget extension.
What you can do to advocate for Peripheral Neuropathy research funding in this final step
Please take the time to contact your senators regarding the final approval of the FY21 Defense Appropriations Act. Please ask them to ensure that the final version includes the “peripheral neuropathy” designation in the PRMRP.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Find the contact for your senator here.
- Go to your senators’ website pages/online contact forms.
- Please fill out the form with your name, address, and message. Where the form asks for your message, copy in the message below.
- If you prefer, write a letter directly to your senator using the wording below.
- Let FPN know at [email protected] that you have sent a letter or contacted your senator so we are able to advise our consultant to follow up in DC.
Message to your Senators:
Please use this message in communication to your Senator to help us advocate for more peripheral neuropathy funding:
Date
Dear Senator,
Earlier this year, I contacted you to request that the Senate Committee on Appropriations include “peripheral neuropathy” among the disorders and conditions eligible for research funding under the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). I am happy to say that ‘peripheral neuropathy’ is included in the Senate’s FY21 Defense Appropriations Act bill that was released on November 10, 2020.
I understand that in the coming weeks, the Senate will approve the final version of the fiscal year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act. On behalf of the more than 30 million Americans coping with peripheral neuropathy, I urge you to approve the Defense Appropriations Act as written. In this final version, peripheral neuropathy is included as an eligible condition for research funding from the PRMRP. Research funding for peripheral neuropathy is extremely important to the veterans, military families and civilians dealing with this debilitating condition. For this reason, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans for Common Sense has endorsed this request.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope we can count on you to work for the final enactment of this important legislative initiative.
Sincerely,
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy urges you to contact your Senator prior to November 24, 2020. Please request that your senator approve the Senate’s version of the fiscal year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act that includes “peripheral neuropathy” among the eligible PRMRP conditions.