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!!ACTION ALERT!!

Contact both your Senators and ask that they continue to support the inclusion of “interstitial cystitis (IC)” as condition eligible for study through the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 appropriations process

Background

Each year, the United States Senate crafts an annual Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill, which includes a list of conditions that are deemed “eligible for study” through the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). In order for a condition to be included, Senators need to support the condition and officially ask for its inclusion. Senators have many competing appropriations priorities and in order for them to support a condition-specific request, they need to be educated and asked to do so by their constituents. (You)

As a result of grassroots outreach, the Senate has recognized “interstitial cystitis (IC)” as a condition eligible for study annually for a number of years. This support allows IC medical researchers to compete for nearly $278 million in federal research funding each year.

Senators are currently working on the FY 2017 DoD appropriations bill and deciding which conditions will be included on the next PRMRP eligible conditions list. Being included on the list one year is no guarantee of being included again in the next year. At this critical juncture, please reach out to the offices of your Senators and ask that they “once again support the inclusion of “interstitial cystitis (IC)” in the DOD PRMRP’s eligible conditions list in FY 2017.”

Take Action

• To contact both of your Senators, please complete the letter below and remit it to ICA’s Washington Representative Philip Goglas II, at Goglas@hmcw.org.
• Phil will compile all letters to your Senators and hand deliver them to their respective offices and staffers.
• If you are well-acquainted with the staff in your Senator’s office, please feel free to send them a personal e-mail or coordinated group message through Phil (we want to make sure they do not receive multiple or overwhelming e-mails on this issue).

The Honorable _______

________ Senate Office Building
Dear Senator_______,

Thank you for your leadership on patient care and public health issues. I write you today on behalf of the community of individuals affected by interstitial cystitis (IC) to ask that you work with your colleagues on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to ensure that “interstitial cystitis (IC)” is once again listed as a condition eligible for study through the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) within the Committee Report accompanying the Senate’s FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill.

[Tell your interstitial cystitis (IC) story in 1-2 paragraphs]

IC is becoming increasingly prevalent among active personnel and veterans and is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. DOD supports important research on medical conditions that impact military personnel, their families and veterans through the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program. Congress has historically included IC in the list of eligible conditions for research under this program and IC researchers compete successfully each year.

I hope you will work with your colleagues on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in support of once again listing “interstitial cystitis (IC)” in FY 2017 as a condition eligible for study through the annual list on the Committee Report accompanying the Senate’s FY17 bill.

On behalf of the interstitial cystitis (IC) community, thank you for your time and your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]