The Public Health, Education and Research Program on Tourette Syndrome at the US
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Annually the Tourette Association must request $2 million dollars of federal funding for
the continuation of The Tourette Syndrome Public Health, Education, and Research
Program at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
(NCBDDD) at the CDC.
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Back in 2000, the US Congress passed and President George Bush signed H.R. 4365,
the Children's Health Act, in September of 2000 (P.L. 106-310). It is a lengthy bill
containing beneficial provisions on numerous specific diseases and problems affecting
children. Title 23 captioned "Children and Tourette Syndrome Awareness" and authorized
a Public Health Education and Research Program on Tourette Syndrome.
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In 2004 The Tourette Association and CDC's National Center on Birth
Defects and Developmental Disabilities began a partnership administering the Public
Health, Education & Research Program to provide information to physicians, allied health
professionals, and educators to increase the availability of and access to clinicians
knowledge about Tourette Syndrome (TS), and improve teaching strategies and the
learning environment in order to end stigma and support acceptance and inclusion of
students with TS in school settings.
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The purpose of the CDC Public Health, Education and Research Program is to advance
scientific knowledge about the prevalence, risk-factors and treatment of Tourette
Syndrome as well as to educate physicians, health care professionals, school personnel,
as well as those who have TS, their families, and the general public about TS.
o
Evaluation data of the program consistently reflects increased knowledge and impact on
professional practice.
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Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Leonard Lance annually circulate a
Congressional Letter to their Colleagues; asking Members to sign their letter in support of
continued funding of Tourette Syndrome at the CDC. This year’s letter has a March
Deadline to get funding in the Fiscal Year 2016 Labor, Health, and Human Services,
Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Bill.
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Congressional Offices may contact Morgan Brand of Senator Charles Schumer’s Office
and Molly McDonnell of Representative Leonard Lance Office to sign on before the LHHS
Appropriations March 2015 Deadline.