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Contact Your Representative to Support Blood Cancer Research at the Department of Defense
Efforts are underway in the U.S. House of Representatives to create a new blood cancer research program within the Department of Defense (DoD). Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and John Shimkus (R-IL) are leading this effort and are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter to all members of the House asking them to sign-on to a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of establishing a peer-reviewed blood cancer research program at DoD. The DoD cancer research program funded a leukemia project from 2001 to 2006, but the program was eliminated in 2007. The effort being led by Representative Capps and Shimkus is to establish a $25 million research program within DoD for all forms of blood cancers. Your Representative needs to hear from you about the importance of signing-on to Capps-Shimkus letter and the importance of establishing a blood cancer research program within DoD. It is critical that you contact your Representative as soon as possible because Representatives Capps and Shimkus have a deadline of Friday, April 3 to secure the support of additional Representatives. Most Members of Congress will not support "Dear Colleague" requests UNLESS they hear from their constituents.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As a hematologist interested in research and treatment for serious blood disorders, including blood cancers, I write to urge you to co-sign a letter being circulated by Representatives Lois and Capps and John Shimkus in support of establishing a program and funding for blood cancer research at the Department of Defense (DoD). This research is critically important. Military personnel may be at heightened risk of developing several forms of blood cancers due to exposure to chemical and biological agents. A special research program at DoD that is responsive to the health care needs of these military personnel and veterans is crucial. Additionally, research into blood cancers routinely results in a deeper, basic understanding of other cancers and leads to the development of therapies, yielding benefits for patients throughout the nation. Please support the recommendation to establish a blood cancer research program at DoD and sign-on to the Capps-Shimkus letter to the Appropriations Committee in support of this request. Please have your staff contact Abha Kundi in Representative Capps' office at Abha.Kundi@mail.house.gov or Chris Sarley in Representative Shimkus' office at Chris.Sarley@mail.house.gov to add your name to this letter before its deadline of April 3, 2009. Thank you for your interest in this issue and I appreciate your support. Please contact me if I can provide additional information to you.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
Several blood cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, have been determined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to be associated with exposure to chemical and biological agents during World War II, Vietnam, and the two Gulf Wars. The IOM conclusion underscores the need to begin a special research program that is responsive to the health care needs of the military personnel and veterans.
The Department of Defense (DoD) research programs have been praised by researchers, advocates, and Congress for the outstanding research they have supported and their contribution to a stronger understanding of, and improved treatment for, a wide range of cancers, including blood cancers.
The goal of the "Dear Colleague" effort being led by Representatives Capps and Shimkus is to establish a peer-reviewed blood cancer research program at DoD by providing $25 million in FY 2010 appropriations.
