As individuals affected by psoriatic diseases in Iowa, we are deeply concerned that a decline in federal funding for medical research will threaten the health of individuals with chronic diseases like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We understand agencies that support research like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could be facing significant funding cuts. These cuts, on top of years of flat funding to the NIH, will compromise efforts to prevent and combat disease. The NIH has recently announced that due to sequestration it will award approximately 700 fewer research grants than it did in fiscal year 2012, and admit approximately 750 fewer patients to the NIH Clinical Center hospital in 2013. For the 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis, the estimated 2 million people with psoriatic arthritis and the many more with chronic diseases, these cuts are a threat to our health and well-being and that of future generations. We believe we need to maintain federally funded research that promotes lifesaving medical advances and improves the overall health of Americans. A lack of commitment from Congress will jeopardize efforts to strengthen our research infrastructure. I respectfully urge you to fight against funding cuts that would reduce incentives for medical research.