IFFGD’s Capitol Hill Advocacy Day has allowed us to be a voice on Capitol Hill for years on behalf of the digestive health community. Despite the progress we have made, federal funding for functional gastrointestinal (GI) and motility disorders research currently lags behind other digestive conditions, and patients frequently face issues regarding access to care and availability of treatment options.
Each year IFFGD sponsors an Advocacy Day to encourage patients, family members and friends, healthcare providers, researchers, and members of the public across the US to take action on behalf of the digestive health community.
Since 2010, hundreds of advocates from across the US, representing different functional GI and motility disorders, have joined us on Capitol Hill or reached out to their House Congressional Representatives through phone, email, and social media channels to share their personal experiences with these conditions and advocate for increased research funding.
Together we carry a clear, impactful message that will help expand critical research, initiate important legislation, and facilitate the development of new treatment options.
Thank you for being an advocate for digestive health.
Former Capitol Hill Advocacy Day Events
Timeline
IFFGD's Capitol Hill Advocacy Days
2024
IFFGD’s 2024 Education and Advocacy Event was held April 14-15, 2024. This complimentary event was designed to educate the community about access to healthcare and treatment. On Sunday, we helped important presentations designed to guide individuals on how to best advocate for themselves in the medical field. On Monday, participants headed to Capitol Hill to meet with their congressional representatives to advocate for policies that affect the GI community and to show support for increased research funding.
2023
IFFGD’s 2023 Education and Advocacy Event was a complimentary event This event was held on April 16-17, 2023. On Sunday, we helped important presentations to educate the community about access to healthcare and treatment and how to best advocate for yourself in the medical field. On Monday, participants headed to Capitol Hill to meet with their congressional representatives to advocate for policies that affect the GI community and to show support for increased research funding.
2022
IFFGD’s 2022 Advocacy and Education Event was a two-day event.
On Sunday, October 2nd, we held our education program which was designed to help you learn more about how to receive the health care you need and deserve.
For this event, IFFGD gathered stories from our patient community to show representatives the importance of removing barriers that restrict patient access to health care.
2021
IFFGD’s 2021 Virtual Advocacy Event was a week-long event including discussions on how to locate and utilize various forms of support; facebook, online and in person groups, financial and travel.
This event also provided participants with the opportunity to share the impact of digestive disorders with elected officials and advocate virtually with others just like you
2020
IFFGD’s 2020 Virtual Advocacy Event was a two-day event educating and empowering advocates from across the nation — patients, family members and friends, and health care providers. This educational opportunity provided information on
- how patients and caregivers can engage with Federal agencies to help shape research, drug development, and approval
- How to effectively share personal experiences
- How to educate key policymakers in Washington about the needs of the millions of Americans affected.
View the Education Program
2019
On June 24 – 25, 2019, advocates headed to Capitol Hill to conduct our Congressional visits. Groups attended meetings with Members of Congress and/or their staff. Groups shared their stories of how a FGIMD has impacted them and ask for their support for increased funding for medical research into these conditions.
2018
On September 26, 2018, we collected and hand delivered 80 letters and pictures from various digestive health patients and advocates. These letters shared the challenges posed by life with a chronic GI disorder and the perspectives of those affected, to emphasize the critical need for greater research funding for treatments and cures through passage of HR 1187, the Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2017.
2017
On Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 patients, their family members and friends, health care providers, and others from across the United States took part in IFFGD’s 8th Annual Advocacy Day.
On this day, advocates reached out to House Members of Congress to cosponsor The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2017 (HR 1187)
2016
On June 23rd, 2016 patients, family members and friends, health care providers, researchers, and members of the public across the US reached out to their House Members of Congress through email, phone, and social media on behalf of The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act (HR 2311).
Learn more
2015
On Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 people came together from across the United States to take part in IFFGD’s 2015 Virtual Advocacy Day.
On this day patients and their families, healthcare professionals, researchers, and members of the public reached out to their Congressional Representatives to ask that they stand up for digestive health by cosponsoring The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2015 (HR 2311)
2014
On June 23 and 24, digestive health advocates headed to Washington, DC for the seventh annual DHA Advocacy Day.
We urged Members of Congress to take action on 5 important digestive issues:
- House Member co-sponsorship and Senate introduction of The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2013 (H.R. 842)
- Support for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to a level of at least $32 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015
- Support for veterans in the FY15 Defense Appropriations bill by: House and Senate funding support of the Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program, which provides a source of funding for functional GI disorders research
- Support for funding for the National Pediatric Research Network Act, with funding for a pediatric FGIMD network
- Clarification regarding reasons and purpose for new guidance governing medical foods from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
2013
June 2013, IFFGD advocates headed to Capitol Hill to visit congressional offices to express the importance of research, education, and awareness of functional GI and motility disorders (FGIMDs).
We had four main points to make when visiting our Congressional offices:
- It’s important to continue funding research at the National Institute of Health (NIH).
- We requested support of The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2013 (H.R. 842) – co-sponsorship in the House of Representatives and introduction in the Senate – so that we can see improved treatments for FGIMDS.
- Stressed the importance of the Gulf War Illness Research Program
- The National Pediatric Research Network Act (H.R. 225/S. 421)
2012
On Tuesday June 19, 2012 Stephen James, MD, Director, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, provided an update on federal research for the NIH
Wednesday June 20, 2012, advocates visited nearly 40 offices meeting with House and Senate staff and Members of Congress to urge support for a legislative agenda focused on bolstering research into functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders and improving patient care. The digestive health advocates represented many different disorders. They shared their personal stories in urging Members of Congress to take action on 3 specific and critical issues:
- House Member co-sponsorship of The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2011 (H.R. 2239) and the introduction of a companion bill in the Senate
- Support of increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to a level of at least $32 billion in Fiscal Year 2013
- Support for veterans in the FY13 Defense Appropriations bill through the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Gulf War Illness Research Program, which provides a source of funding for functional GI disorders research IFFGD Advocates on Capitol Hill
2011
On June 15, 2011 digestive health advocates urged Members of Congress to take action in important initiatives, like funding federal Functional GI and Motility Disorders research activities. These included 4 critical issues:
- House Member co-sponsorship of The Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2011(H.R. 2239).
- House and Senate support of increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to a level of $35 billion in Fiscal Year 2012.
- Support veterans in the FY12 Defense Appropriations bill by: House Members including functional GI disorders research in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) Gulf War Illness Research Program; and Senate Members including functional GI disorders in the CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program’s eligible conditions list
- House and Senate support to ensure passage of the Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act (H.R. 1080)
2010
April 2010, twenty-eight digestive health advocates met in Washington, DC for the IFFGD Advocacy Day
While meeting with congressional offices, advocates urged their Members of Congress to support 3 critical issues:
- Introduction of legislation to emphasize and increase support for research and education, the IBS and Functional GI Disorders Research and Treatment Act.
- Introduction of a Congressional Resolution recognizing the need to increase critical awareness and research for IBS and functional GI disorders.
- Substantially increasing overall funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at a level of $35 billion in fiscal year 2011 to support bio-medical research, including expansion of the federally supported functional GI and motility disorders research portfolio.
See other IFFGD accomplishments:
Public Education & Awareness
