The Lupus Foundation of America applauds the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for voting to pass the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations bill, which includes critical research and education funding for lupus. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

The bill would provide:

• $6 million for the National Lupus Patient Registry Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
• Continued funding for the Lupus Initiative at the Office of Minority Health within Health and Human Services; and
• $34 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for medical research, including research for lupus.

"We applaud the Senate for their support of critical funding for lupus research to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies, and ultimately, cures,” said Sandra C. Raymond, Lupus Foundation of America President and CEO.

“We have worked diligently with the Congress to ensure that these vital programs continue and expand upon the important work that is being done to improve and save the lives of people impacted by this devastating disease.”