Congress slashed over 57% of funding from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), which supports research into diseases like ME/CFS. The next step in getting this funding restored is legislation – and we need your Representatives to support it!
The Medical Research for Our Troops Act would fully restore this funding and require the Department of Defense to maintain disease priorities set in FY24.
What the Medical Research for Our Troops Act Does
This bill amends the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119–4) to restore more than $1.18 billion in funding to the Defense Health Agency’s research, development, test, and evaluation accounts, including the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
What Changed and What This Bill Fixes
- The 2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) had set funding for Defense Health RDT&E (Research, Development, Test & Evaluation) at $40,395,072,000.
- This bill increases that number to $41,576,684,000 — a restoration of $1,181,612,000 in funding
This restores the Defense Health Agency budget line to what Congress originally intended for FY2025.
Specific to CDMRP:
Section 2(c) of the bill requires that:
- The restored funds for CDMRP be used in a way that mirrors the FY2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 118–47), including all research programs and peer-reviewed initiatives listed there.
- The Department of Defense must adhere to all specified funding allocations and research priorities listed on pages 311–314 of the FY24 explanatory statement.
That includes any specific disease topic areas funded in FY24, such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), if it was included in those pages (which it was).
Why This Matters for ME/CFS
If this bill does not pass:
- CDMRP will remain significantly underfunded.
- The ME/CFS research topic area may not be funded in future years because the reduced budget may force the program to drop topics or fund less projects overall.
If it does pass:
- The Department of Defense must treat CDMRP as if the FY24 funding structure still applies — including honoring the ME/CFS topic area and others that were authorized last year.
- The restoration ensures that ME/CFS researchers can apply for funding in FY25 through CDMRP, preserving momentum at a crucial time for our illness.
Call or email your Representative now using our toolkit below and ask them to sign on using the Quill form in the Dear Colleague letter from Reps. Carson and Levin.
Take action here:
https://solvecfs.quorum.us/campaign/127526/
The Deadline for representatives to sign on is Wednesday, June 11!
