This petition is an appeal to the National MS Society and the sponsors of Legislation H.R. 2595, the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011. We request mandated, veteran focused epidemiological reporting of autoimmune diseases within legislation and research to the Veterans Administration and the Center for Disease Control, specific to auto-immune diseases and Multiple Sclerosis. 

Military veterans have experienced unique vaccine protocols, environmental and chemical exposures through their selfless service to their country. Gulf War veterans suffered a plethora of exposures and have reported a higher than normal rate of Multiple Sclerosis. The National MS Society commonly includes veterans in their justifications for research and legislation. However, there must be mandated veteran-focused data reporting to the Veterans Administration and the Centers for Disease Control that will benefit both the veteran population by tracking diagnosis trends and provide environmental exposure data valuable to the entire MS community.

We ask that you support veterans by asking for mandated veteran-focused elements within proposed research and legislation.

30% of Gulf War veterans are ill. "I don't think that the US population understands the epidemic proportion." - Dr. James Baraniuk, Georgetown University.

For more information regarding Gulf War illness and Gulf War veterans: http://youtu.be/r3M5LXobDTc