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January 17, 2013 Welcome the New Congress As we begin a new year, with it comes a brand new Congress.  While our nation will deal with the same challenging problems and hard questions, on paper, the new Congress is starting with a clean slate. The 113th Congress brings us a Democrat-controlled Senate once again with 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans, and 2 Independents. There are twelve newly-elected Senators; eight Democrats, three Republicans, and one independent. The House of Representatives will remain under Republican control with 233 Republican seats and 200 Democratic seats. There are 82 new Members of Congress in the House; 47 Democrats and 35 Republicans. The Lupus Foundation of America is excited for an active 2013 on Capitol Hill. Congressional Lupus CaucusThe Congressional Lupus Caucus was reintroduced in the House by its four Co-Chairs: Representatives Tom Rooney (R-FL), William Keating (D-MA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Jim Moran (D-VA). The Caucus was first established in 2012, and its primary goal is to provide a forum for Members of Congress and their staffs to actively engage in a dialogue to improve the quality of life for people with lupus, support the advancement of lupus research, and increase awareness of lupus. The Caucus lost 11 members to re-election in November. We need your help to build membership. E-mail your Representative and ask them to join! The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 While the “fiscal cliff” was avoided by last minute legislation, many of the more painful decisions were put off for a later date. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012(H.R.8) extends individual, energy, and business tax breaks. It also extends unemployment benefits for one year.  The legislation leaves most government programs operating as usual, but further pushes the issues of the debt ceiling, sequestration, and government shutdown to the next few months. Sequestration is now delayed until March 1, and funding for lupus research is still at risk.  Cuts to programs such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be extremely detrimental to lupus research. Progress on promising drug development, clinical trials, and treatment would slow or stop completely. Tell your Senators and Representatives that we need cures, not cuts so that the research we need can continue. National Lupus Advocacy Conference: Save-the-dateJune 24 – 25, 2013 Join lupus activists from across the country in Washington, DC for an empowering and uplifting two-day event. The first day will focus on issue training and how to communicate with Congress and their staff.  On the second day, we will take to Capitol Hill and meet with federal legislators.

The Lupus Foundation of America is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable, and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus.