Congress plans to cut $1.2 trillion in federal spending by November 2011. If we do not tell Congress that we care about arthritis research, vital programs at the National Institutes of Health will be cut.

Speaking as one voice, on behalf of the more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children facing the daily challenges of arthritis, our goal was to inform Congress about arthritis and tell them that arthritis is unacceptable.

We still need your help!  Go to www.arthritis.org/advocacy and participate in the following:

• Check out the Virtual Summit to watch video highlights and participate in the following:

• Send a letter to your representatives and let them know that arthritis is unacceptable!

• Learn more about the Arthritis Foundation's Advocacy Priorities, which includes asking Congress to:

  • Join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus.

  • Send a letter to President Obama and Secretary Sebelius requesting arthritis as a national priority.

  • Sustain arthritis research and programs at the National Institutes of Health

  • Support arthritis research at the Department of Defense

• Sign up to become an e-advocate and/or Ambassador

For more information on advocacy initiatives at the Arthritis Foundation, please contact Michele Pfeilschifter at mpfeilschifter@arthritis.org and/or (312) 880-4736.

To view pictures from the 2011 Advocacy Summit, please click on:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/31148670@N02/sets/72157626064778599/

How You Can Help

The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 50 million Americans living with arthritis and chronic joint symptoms. We need your help, however, to get more government funding for arthritis research, to encourage early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and to improve access to quality health care for everyone with arthritis.

Visit our Advocacy Section for tools you need to become informed about the issues and to make your voice heard. You will find issue "backgrounders," Arthritis Foundation position statements, as well as links to other Web sites that may be helpful.

Become An Advocate -- Join the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Network

Arthritis Advocacy Priorities -- Read about the issues

Contact Congress -- Quickly locate your legislators and send a message

Looking For More Information?

For more information on how to become involved, please contact Michele Pfeilschifter at mpfeilschifter@arthritis.org or (312) 880-4736.