In late September, the Committee passed its Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies spending bill for fiscal year 2012 to fund the National Institutes of Health and other labor, education and health programs. Thanks to outreach by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a section on cystic fibrosis research was inserted into the bill's “committee report,” a statement that often accompanies spending bills to explain the legislation.

This provision points out the need for innovative research into treatments that target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis and encourages the use of new technologies to develop, discover and evaluate new treatments. It also notes the potential for CF research to help those with other diseases.

While the legislation has not been passed by Congress, the inclusion of this provision brings greater awareness of cystic fibrosis to Capitol Hill and illustrates the potential of innovative CF research to make a real difference in the lives of patients. The House of Representatives and the Senate will continue to negotiate the federal budget for fiscal year 2012 throughout the fall.

• Read the relevant text about cystic fibrosis here, on page 111.
• Learn how you can speak out and inspire action in Congress by becoming a CF advocate.