More than 60 environmental and other organizations from across the country are urging Congress to increase funding for research into a disease that is killing bats in the eastern United States.

Members of Congress from 13 states have already urged the Obama administration to do more about White-Nose Syndrome. Two subcommittees of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee are planning to hold a hearing on the subject June 4.

Mollie Matteson of the Richmond, Virginia-based Center for Biological Diversity, says people across the country feel the issue is critical and needs immediate attention.

Bats from West Virginia to New England have been dying off from the disease. It's prompted federal officials to advise people to stay out of thousands of caves to slow the spread of the fungus.