National Brain Tumor Society - Public Policy and Advocacy Update
Vol. 2. No. 1
January 17, 2012
• Let’s make some noise around the State of the Union and beginning of Congress’ second session.
• How we can make 2012 a year to advance toward a cure for brain tumors
• Welcome Jennifer Lemmerman, Manager of Field Advocacy
Let’s make some noise around the State of the Union and beginning of Congress’ second session.
Although the GOP primaries are dominating the news, there are two important milestones coming up in January. The President’s State of the Union Address is on January 24 and the full Congress’ first week back in session is the week of the 23. This gives us a couple of opportunities to encourage elected leaders to increase support for biomedical research like they did in 2011, and let them know what they can do accelerate research and improve health care. Watch for an email inviting you to make your voice heard on behalf of the brain tumor community during the week of January 23. All of the advocates were terrific in 2011 and your advocacy resulted in an increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, at a time when many other government programs were cut significantly. We can achieve great things when we speak collectively, often, and loudly. Let’s do it again in 2012.
How we can make 2012 a year to advance toward a cure for brain tumors
So what exactly can Congress and the President do to advance our goals to cure brain tumors and improve health care for brain tumor patients? Three big things:
1. Increase support for and improve brain tumor research as well as basic biological and genomic research
2. Accelerate the review and approval process for potential therapies
3. Ensure that brain tumor patients and caregivers are able to access and afford the essential health care services they need.
Over the next few weeks, the National Brain Tumor Society will share with you a more detailed public policy agenda. However, these three items point toward a future where new therapies are discovered and delivered, and our health care system puts patients first. We look forward to working with you toward these important policy goals.
Welcome Jennifer Lemmerman, Manager of Field Advocacy
We are very pleased that Jennifer Lemmerman joined the staff of National Brain Tumor Society. Jennifer brings a wealth of experience working with patients, caregivers, and health care providers to advance public policy to make health care more adequate and affordable. She previously worked at Community Catalyst, a national action tank that provides policy analysis and advocacy tools related to health care consumer issues and she worked at National Alliance for Mental Illness as an advocate helping people with mental disabilities. She will be our point person in working to strengthen our nationwide advocacy force for the brain tumor community. Jen will also be coordinating Brain Tumor Action Week related activities including our advocacy days on May 7 and 8 in Washington D.C. just after the Race for Hope DC on Sunday May 6. Please feel free to welcome Jen at jlemmerman@braintumor.org
Thank you for your terrific and powerful advocacy in 2011 and your continued commitment in 2012.
David
David F. Arons, JD
Director of Public Policy
darons@braintumor.org
Past Updates
Vol 1., No. 1
Vol 1., No. 2
Vol 1., No. 3
Vol 1., No. 4
Vol 1., No. 5
Vol 1., No. 6
