Washington, D.C. -  The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society released the following statement today:

Congressman David Price (NC-04) has been honored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as its 2005 Representative of the Year. The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National MS Society enthusiastically nominated Price in recognition of his commitment to the policies and funding needed to adequately address the debilitating disease that affects approximately 400,000 Americans.

“Congressman David Price has been a tireless advocate for increased research and funding to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis,” says Bob Bryan, President of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “We are pleased that our national organization has recognized his efforts in this way.”

Price has long advocated boosting federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), both of which carry out critical research in the treatment of many chronic diseases including MS. In 1998, Price called on Congress to double the funding for NIH over five years and has since been critical of the President’s budget, which would result in cuts to both NIH and the CDC. He also pledged to use his position on the House Appropriations Committee to continue to push for adequate funding for MS research.

At the Society’s Public Policy Conference on May 2, where he received the award, Congressman Price said, “Thank you for this distinguished honor as the 2005 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Representative of the Year. I’m glad to see so many representatives from our North Carolina delegation here this morning and appreciate their nomination for this award. I know there are a range of experts and advocates here who understand how important it is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. I am lucky to have such a strong base of advocates working on behalf of the National MS Society in North Carolina.”

Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. The National MS Society’s medical advisors recommend that people with MS talk with their health care professional about using one of these medications and about strategies and effective treatments to manage symptoms. The National MS Society is committed to ensuring that people with MS have the information and quality care they need to live healthy, productive and independent lives. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society today at www.nationalmssociety.org/nct or 1-800-FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.