Fibromyalgia Senator Rally

On May 11th, 2022, Fibromyalgia Delegates successfully met with Congressional leaders on the Hill to share the impact that fibromyalgia had on their everyday lives. Our ask, an appropriations request to open up funding at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for the reclassification of fibromyalgia as a neurological condition. There is a desperate need for more robust research studies for fibromyalgia. 

The current limited investment in fibromyalgia research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), shows minimal funding dedicated towards specific research that investigates the neurological pathology of fibromyalgia. We are deeply concerned that this lack of specific medical research will not be translational to a local doctor’s office, much less lead to the advancement of drug development and viable treatments for the future. Without a proper medical classification, fibromyalgia research will continue to offer no direction for medical providers and the patient community. 

 This made a lot of sense to our Congressional leaders and we have an appropriation request currently circulating with a few of the Senators! We need your help Support Fibro friends! 

• Anyone living in the states of South Carolina, Florida, and New York: support the rally by emailing and calling Senator Graham for South Carolina constituents, Senator Rubio for Florida constituents, and Senator Schumer for New York constituents. Please be very kind and share why it’s so important to support this appropriation letter.
• For other federal Senators: support the rally by emailing or calling to see if your Senator(s) will write a supportive letter on their behalf as to the importance of this appropriations request.

Fibromyalgia Senator Rally

Find your Senators

SENATE

Find your senators here: http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/

My senators are:

• Bookmark their website
• Copy the phone numbers for both the Washington, D.C. office and state office
• Follow them on social media
• Sign up for any email lists

ADVOCACY BY PHONE / EMAIL

The phone numbers of the offices of your senators and representatives are available on their websites. You can also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ office. 

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Please be kind and patient. 

Your Personal Script:

Hello, My name is (First & Last), and I am from (City & State).

I am calling today to respectfully request your attention on an appropriations request letter that is currently in circulation with your Senate colleagues regarding opening up funding at the NIH for the reclassification of fibromyalgia as a neurological condition. Fibromyalgia Delegates took meetings with our Congressional leaders last week. There is a desperate need for more robust research studies for fibromyalgia as a neurological condition. Please help us preserve research funding for fibromyalgia which afflicts between 4-12 million patients like myself [or if calling on behalf of someone].  

Share your story briefly. If you have specific expertise in an issue, make sure the staffer knows that.

Fibromyalgia’s cause is still unknown and there is no cure. Patients have a lower quality of life. Please urge Representative/Senator {LAST NAME} to support fibromyalgia patients by opening up funding for proper classification and specific fibromyalgia treatments that be can be affordably translated into the doctor’s office.  

I appreciate your support of the fibromyalgia community.