June 26-27, 2017

The 2017 National Lupus Policy Summit brought together nearly 200 lupus advocates from across the country to visit Capitol Hill, and thousands more joined virtually, to urge Members of Congress to:

help advance the development of new lupus treatments;

increase funding for lupus research and education;

and ensure people with lupus have access to affordable, quality health coverage and care.

“The National Lupus Policy Summit is the most impactful advocacy event of the year as it provides lupus advocates the opportunity to meet directly with members of Congress to share their daily struggles with the disease, and demonstrate the urgent need to step up the fight against lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “At a time when health care is top of mind for Congress, lupus advocates from all over the country will meet with our nation’s leaders to urge them not only to increase funding for research, but also to ensure they have access to the quality and affordable care they need.”

The National Lupus Policy Summit also provided advocates with empowering programs and activities including three interactive and educational panel discussions on day one of the event. Panelists included leaders from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advocates had direct access to the very leaders who are funding and implementing programs to advance lupus research, education and awareness.

Congressional Champion Awards

Following the panel sessions, the Foundation hosted an evening Advocacy Awards Reception to honor members of Congress whose leadership has made a significant difference in the fight against lupus. Recipients of Congressional Champion Awards included:

The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen

United States House of Representatives

Chairman, House Appropriations Committee

The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson

United States House of Representatives

Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus

The Honorable Bill Keating

United States House of Representatives

Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus

The Honorable Thomas J. Rooney

United States House of Representatives

Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus

The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

United States House of Representatives

Co-chair, Congressional Lupus Caucus

View the 2017 National Lupus Policy Summit program.