Where do your candidates stand on research issues?

Advocacy Alert: 10/20/2006 

With the mid-term elections less than three weeks away, we're hearing from advocates with questions about what to ask candidates to find out where they stand on CFS funding, health issues and medical research. If you have the chance, ask them what they know about CFS and how they would propose accelerating progress on disabling, chronic multisystem illnesses that don't get the same attention and support as higher profile diseases. Keep in mind that overall funding for NIH and CDC has slowed with this Congress and may be cut with the funding bill lawmakers will finish after the election. 

Before you cast your vote, consult this valuable resource. Research!America, a leading research advocacy organization, has launched Your Candidates–Your Health, the first national voter education initiative focused exclusively on Congressional candidates’ positions on investment in medical, health and scientific research and other research-related policy issues. Please visit www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org and use the convenient search tools to see where your candidates stand.

This important initiative will be featured in this Sunday's issue of PARADE magazine, delivered with many newspapers nationwide to 75 million readers.

Your Candidates–Your Health Web site also features the findings of our latest public opinion poll, many of which correspond to questions asked of candidates. The results demonstrate that research-related issues will be important in the November elections.

If your candidates have not yet responded to the Your Candidates–Your Health questionnaire, please encourage them to do so. Available Web site and e-mail addresses are provided on each candidate’s page at www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org.  An easy way to give your candidates all of the details on the initiative is by sending the link to R!A’s recent ad in The Hill newspaper. Responses from candidates will be accepted up until the November election.

Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by more than 500 member organizations that represent the voices of more than 125 million Americans. The CFIDS Association of America is a proud member of Research!America.