2018 Brain Aneurysm Foundation Annual Report 2018-Brain-Aneurysm-Foundation-Annual-Report | Page 14

ADVOCACY
“Increased federal funding for brain aneurysm research through the
passage of Ellie’s Law is essential to finding new methods of preventing,
detecting, and treating brain aneurysms and their consequences.”
- Christine J. Buckley, Executive Director
For the seventh consecutive year, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation led a delegation of committed individuals
from across the nation to meet with U.S. legislators on Capitol Hill for its Annual Congressional Advocacy Day.
The delegation included brain aneurysm survivors and caregivers, family members who lost loved ones to brain
aneurysms, healthcare professionals, foundation board members, and BAF corporate partners.
This year, more than 100 people from 20 states participated in Advocacy Day on March 30. This was the largest
turnout to date, demonstrating the growing commitment among those impacted by brain aneurysms for
advocating for policies aimed at improving and saving lives.
“We also had some great new people join us this year, including a man whose wife died of a brain aneurysm who
traveled all the way from California to have his voice heard,” says Christine Buckley, Executive Director of the
Brain Aneurysm Foundation.
ELLIE’S LAW
Delegation members met with 200 legislators, helping raise awareness of brain aneurysms and encourage
continuing support of Ellie’s Law (H.R. 1648/S. 1999). Introduced on March 21, 2017 by U.S. Representatives
Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA), this bill would provide $25 million ($5 million per year over
five years) in federal funding for brain aneurysm research. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), is committed to
introducing a companion bill in the Senate. The bill honors a teenaged girl and three women who passed away
from a brain aneurysm: Ellie Helton, Lisa Colagrossi, Teresa Anne Lawrence, and Jennifer Sedney.
“Increased federal funding for brain aneurysm research through the passage of Ellie’s Law is essential to finding
new methods of preventing, detecting, and treating brain aneurysms and their consequences,” said Ms. Buckley.
She points out that federal funding for brain aneurysm research is disproportionately low compared to other
diseases with similar prevalence and death rates. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the largest private funder of
brain aneurysm research in the nation.
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