On March 29, 2017, over 40 American Thoracic Society (ATS) members and patient advocates traveled to Capitol Hill to encourage increased research funding, health care reform that ensures affordable health insurance coverage and legislation to expand research and treatment for veterans with burn pit exposures. ATS members came from 23 states across the country to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the policy priorities of the ATS. UIC was represented by Dustin Fraidenburg, M.D. Other ATS members attending with Dr. Fraidenburg included: David Gozal (ATS president and University of Chicago pediatric pulmonologist), Aaron Hamvas (Lurie Children’s hospital), Beth Sufian (Cystic Fibrosis advocate), Paula Hamvas (Tobacco educator), Sonal Malhotra (Ped Pulm Fellow, Lurie Children’s hospital), Katherine Rivera‐Spoljaric (WashU pediatric pulmonologist), and Nuala Moore (ATS staff). The group met with both Senator Roy Blunt and Representative Danny Davis whose congressional district includes UIC Hospital and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.