Costello leads bipartisan call to support medical research program for military

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) recently led a bipartisan group of 180 lawmakers in calling for continued support of the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) at the U.S. Department of Defense, which conducts research that addresses the needs of the military and their families.

In a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, Costello highlighted the importance of the CDMRP, and called for the exclusion of provisions that would halt the program from a finalized National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2018 when it is crafted by the NDAA conference committee.

“Innovation in medical research is a central component of medical breakthroughs, and for over two decades, the CDMRP has provided the resources and tools necessary for these important advancements in treatment,” Costello said. “This program has resulted in improving the quality of life for veterans, servicemembers, and their families, and we must continue to support it.”

Established in 1992 to address medical research gaps that are relevant to military service and not supported by the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies, the CDMRP has contributed to breakthroughs in cancer treatments, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and neurological diseases.

The letter, which Costello coauthored with bipartisan support from U.S. Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Peter King (R-NY) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA), noted that the House Appropriations Committee included a major investment in the CDMRP under its approved Defense Appropriations bill for FY 2018.

The Senate version of the NDAA, however, includes four provisions that would “weaken the CDMRP, jeopardizing health care for warfighters, veterans and their families now and in the future,” the letter said.

“If enacted into law, the aforementioned sections would impose such unrealistic burdens that CDMRP efforts would grind to a halt,” the members of Congress wrote. “Medical research to improve the lives of military families and military retirees would be eliminated; critical training programs for military medical staff would be restricted; and proven and successful collaborative research and grant initiatives would be disregarded.”

Representatives of various medical and patient advocacy groups have also joined Costello in calling for continued support of CDMRP.

Bari Talente, the executive vice president of advocacy for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, noted evidence of a link between military service and developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

“The Multiple Sclerosis Research Program, funded by the Department of Defense within the CDMRP, is a critically important path to find answers for those diagnosed with MS who serve our country, as well as for others living with MS,” Talente said. “As co-chair of the MS Caucus, Rep. Costello understands the importance of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program and we thank him and his colleagues for urging the House and Senate conferees to preserve the innovative, high risk research provided through the CDMRP.”