This afternoon, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation to fund government health programs for FY 2026, including lupus-specific programs championed by the Lupus Foundation of America and lupus advocates across the country. The bill includes:
- $10 million for the lupus program at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which supports initiatives across the country to reduce the time to diagnosis and provide resources to help people navigate living with lupus;
- $2 million for the lupus clinical trial program at the Office of Minority Health (OMH) that is working to increase participation in lupus research and clinical trials to help accelerate new medications and ensure they are safe and effective for everyone living with lupus;
- $48.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $400 million increase for the largest source of lupus research funding in the world. The bill also provides a $30 million increase in funding for the Office of Research on Women’s Health, which includes the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research.
This is an important victory and comes as the President’s budget request to Congress earlier this year had proposed to cut NIH funding by nearly 40% and eliminate the lupus program at CDC.
The advocacy throughout the year of people living with lupus, including at this year’s National Lupus Advocacy Summit, has been relentless and is making a difference on Capitol Hill! While this is an important win for the lupus community, the full Senate must still approve the bill and the House also has yet to act on their version of the legislation, all of which are expected to occur in September, following the August Congressional recess.
The Lupus Foundation of America is once again leading a Congressional recess grassroots campaign in August, during which lupus advocates will meet with their members of Congress locally in their districts. Advocates will be urging their members of Congress to support funding for lupus programs and other policies that help to ensure people with lupus have access to the care they need. If you would like to participate in a meeting with your members of Congress, complete this form.
Thank you to every lupus advocate for helping to make sure lupus continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Together we are making a difference.
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