b'Appendix A: National Commission Support Letter261MadisonAvenue,9thFloor|NewYork,NY10016 April 1, 2020The Honorable Rosa DeLauroThe Honorable Tom Cole ChairwomanRanking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and HumanSubcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related AgenciesServices, Education, and Related Agencies U.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 2413 Rayburn House Office Building2207 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515Washington, DC 20515The Honorable Roy BluntThe Honorable Patty Murray ChairmanRanking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Subcommittee on Labor, Health and HumanServices, Education, and Related AgenciesServices, Education, and Related Agencies U.S. Senate Committee on AppropriationsU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 260 Russell Senate Office Building154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510Washington, DC 20510RE:National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases ResearchDear Chairwoman DeLauro, Chairman Blunt and Ranking Members Durbin and Murray:Thank you for your leadership on funding for medical research and support of the lymphatic disease community by including specific recommendations in the FY 2020 LHHS Appropriations Bill encouraging NIH to create a National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases:National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases.OD and NHLBI are applauded for facilitating the 2015 Trans- NIH Lymphatics Symposium. Lymphatics research has the scientific potential to treat a variety of severe diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. The Director is encouraged to establish a National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases or other appropriate mechanism to explore and make recommendations on the ongoing expansion and coordination of lymphatic diseases research NIH-wide.We have followed up with NIH, specifically with the NIH Directors Office about how LE&RN can assist and partner with NIH in taking the important next steps that will lead to meaningful progress to establish the Commission. To date, the response has been to refer us to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Despite NHLBIs genuine support of our agenda, only decisive action by the Directors Office will move us beyond the status quo of lymphatic disease research.The scientific community researching lymphatic diseases is eager to embark on this important process to reinvigorate the NIH research portfolio and define a path forward for progress in this challenging area of study. The status quo limits the opportunity for progress, and we firmly believe now is the time to create this Commission that would explore and create recommendations that would expand and better coordinate lymphatic diseases research across NIH.We ask that you continue to support the establishment of the National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases and intervene with NIH as necessary. There is much work to be done in researching lymphatic diseases. Breakthroughs AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY 46 Tel(516)625-9675Fax(516)625-9410EmailLERN@LymphaticNetwork.orgWebwww.LymphaticNetwork.org'