2017 National Lupus Policy Summit
June 26-27, 2017
The 2017 National Lupus Policy Summit brought together nearly 200 lupus advocates from across the country to visit Capitol Hill, and thousands more joined virtually, to urge Members of Congress to:
- help advance the development of new lupus treatments;
- increase funding for lupus research and education;
- and ensure people with lupus have access to affordable, quality health coverage and care.
“The National Lupus Policy Summit is the most impactful advocacy event of the year as it provides lupus advocates the opportunity to meet directly with members of Congress to share their daily struggles with the disease, and demonstrate the urgent need to step up the fight against lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “At a time when health care is top of mind for Congress, lupus advocates from all over the country will meet with our nation’s leaders to urge them not only to increase funding for research, but also to ensure they have access to the quality and affordable care they need.”
The National Lupus Policy Summit also provided advocates with empowering programs and activities including three interactive and educational panel discussions on day one of the event. Panelists included leaders from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advocates had direct access to the very leaders who are funding and implementing programs to advance lupus research, education and awareness.
Congressional Champion Awards
Following the panel sessions, the Foundation hosted an evening Advocacy Awards Reception to honor members of Congress whose leadership has made a significant difference in the fight against lupus. Recipients of Congressional Champion Awards included:
The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen
United States House of Representatives
Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson
United States House of Representatives
Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus
The Honorable Bill Keating
United States House of Representatives
Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus
The Honorable Thomas J. Rooney
United States House of Representatives
Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus
The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
United States House of Representatives
Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus