[ 19. October 2006, 08:40 PM: Message edited by: TNhayley ]
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
What is the list? The ones that do support it or don't?
Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
Maybe someone else could answer here ... I don't know. I'm learning as I go here.
Although, I would think that extra calls even if they are in favor would still be a good idea.
If no one chimes in, I will try to find out, OK?
H
Edit: sorry didn't actually answer your question. This is the list of the entire committee, regardless of where they say they stand.
Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
beam me up scottie
Posted by efsd25 (Member # 2272) on :
This is the DIRECT link of the 81 CO-SPONSORS; too many to list here !
Hayley, I corrected the wrong name situation you brought to my attention; I bet your Mom had a good laugh!! Bettyg Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
Man, I don't know how I manage to tie my own shoes some days.
I edited to put Lyme Bill in topic line, will rinse, and repeat.
I swear its the rain ...
Hayley
Posted by LML2260 (Member # 9615) on :
I am in process of faxing letters to as many as possible, but it's really important for letters to also come from each legislator's own constituency.
In my letter, I am mentioning the petition at www.petitiononline.com/lyme . I also am sending along a copy of the petition letter and one sample page from the petition so they can see the touching comments people wrote. Please feel free to use the petition in your letters also if you want to.
Also, here is a link to contact info for the legislators http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Got it, thanks -- I see my rep here and I will hound them.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
I sent an email today to my 2 state senators and 1 house rep covering my county, all in congress.
I requested to meet with each for 10 minutes IF they were to be in my city BEFORE the election.
I gave them both lyme bill nos. and told them briefly what they were about.
R. Chuck Grassley's Des Moines office sent me a reply before I logged off around 4 pm saying HE did not know Grassley's schedule, but emailed my request tothe DC office for action.
10 minutes later I had a call from Grassley's office in DC for 10 minues.
NOPE, he won't be in my area but every day his schedule changes on the spur of the moment.
He does NOT meet with anyone 1 on 1; he has TOWN HALL MEETINGS in all 99 counties of Iowa, which I've been to before.
I did ask Kathy Neubel, Grassley's HEALTH CARE ISSUES asst., why Chuck has NOT signed on as CO-SPONSOR TO OUR LYME BILLS .
She said she's met with twice before on this issue about co-sponsoring bills.
HEALTH ILLNESSES, he will NOT co-sponsor since he does not want to show FAVORITSM for one group over another....SO many of them.
Exception is breast cancer since Chuck's wife is a BC SURVIVOR.
Chuck wants to remain NEUTRAL so all bills coming before him; he does not have to ABSTAIN from voting. CHUCK IS "FINANCE" CHAIR!
Kathy said also this bill will have to be RE-INTRODUCED into session every 2 years , and it appeared to be that way right now; 2 yrs. up!
Senate bill is help up in Committee, HLWP, HEALTH, LABOR, WAIVER, PENSIONS
So that's the latest of what I've found out to date! Use email to contact your DC REPS/SENATORS!
Make sure the subject line shows your STATE name 1st to grab their attention. Put your full name/mailing address at the bottom too. Most will follow-up with written letters.
Iowa's Tom Harkin's office has started emailing me back; 1 day I sent on and received reply SAME DAY! NOW THAT'S PROMPT SERVICE; way to go TOM HARKIN; YOU'VE GOT MY VOTE. Bettyg Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Okay if I understand this correctly..........
I can't find any contact info on the Subcommittee on Health, whose chairman is Nathan Deal.
It appears that the Energy and Commerce Committee is the main group, and then the Health Subcommittee is probably where this bill is.
All I can find is how to contact the main group - the Energy and Commerce Committee.
You can send an e-mail by going to the link below. I would suggest addressing your comment to ``Nathan Deal, Chairman - Subcommittee on Health'':
Or: The Committee on Energy and Commerce 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2927 The Committee does not have a public fax number.
Tracy
P.S. I just tried to send an e-mail, and then I got the old ``page cannot be displayed'' when I tried to send it.
Will somebody else try this? Maybe it's just me....... Posted by TNhayley (Member # 8249) on :
Here are the names of the current (as of 10/20/06)Health subcommittee:
Sorry, I don't have the time right now to compare w/ who is signed on, etc. However, as many have pointed out ... this is a lame duck congress now, so we really need constituents to turn the heat on their reps!!!
Joe Barton is a huge barrier! He not only needs heat ... he needs an outright fire storm!!!
You can find contact info, including LOCAL district addys and numbers here:
I put the above post together so it would be easy for everyone to get contact info within the board, without having to do an outside search.
I visited every Reps home webpage to get this info.
At this point, it may just be a shot in the dark. But as we all collectively hold our breath waitng to hear from the LDA and news of the ILADS conference ... this is something we CAN do NOW.
Thanks!!!
Hayley
Nathan Deal, Georgia Chairman
Ralph M. Hall, Texas
Michael Bilirakis, Florida
Fred Upton, Michigan
Paul E. Gillmor, Ohio
Charlie Norwood, Georgia
Barbara Cubin, Wyoming
John Shimkus, Illinois
John B. Shadegg, Arizona
Charles "Chip" Pickering, Mississippi
Steve Buyer, Indiana
Joseph R. Pitts, Pennsylvania
Mary Bono, California
Mike Ferguson, New Jersey
Mike Rogers, Michigan
Sue Myrick, North Carolina
Michael Burgess, Texas
Joe Barton, Texas (Ex Officio)
Sherrod Brown, Ohio Ranking Member
Henry A. Waxman, California
Edolphus Towns, New York
Frank Pallone Jr., New Jersey
Bart Gordon, Tennessee
Bobby L. Rush, Illinois
Anna G. Eshoo, California
Gene Green, Texas
Ted Strickland, Ohio
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Lois Capps, California
Tom Allen, Maine
Jim Davis, Florida
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
John D. Dingell, Michigan (Ex Officio)
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
I want to encourage people not to take time away from contacting their own members of Congress in order to send letters to the committees.
Committees do not handle constituent mail. The only interests committe staff pay attention to are national lobbying groups.
This ranges from nonprofit health groups which are allowed to lobby (even though some like to tell they're members they're not allowed to lobby) to professional associations like the American Medical Association and IDSA.
But don't think for a minute I am suggesting these groups have equal voice before the committees.
Ultimately, the people who can do the most to influence a committee to take action are the Members of Congress or Senators who serve on that committee (but usually on if they are part of the majority party -- currently the Republicans).
And the people who theoretically should be able to do the most to influence them are their consituents. It's a nice theory, isn't it?
I hope everyone on Lymenet is planning to vote on November 7!
Posted by LML2260 (Member # 9615) on :
Betty,
I thought the response you got from Senator Grassley was disturbing. He will support breast cancer legislation because his wife had it?? So he's experienced that disease first hand, but isn't he representing his entire constituency?
It's okay for you to suffer because his wife didn't have lyme disease? !!! Maybe he would like to spend a week at your house so he could experience this disease as well?
Look at this link to NIH funding for different diseases http://www.nih.gov/news/fundingresearchareas.htm. Notice the funding for breast cancer in 2006 was $690 million, for Lyme disease $27 million.
There are a lot of diseases and a lot of interests, but the situation with lyme has become way too political and this legislation is a recognition of the need for reform here.
When there are conflicts of interest and politics surrounding a disease, then it is to our legislators we need to turn to for help. They are responsible for ensuring that agencies such as the CDC and the NIH are acting in an ethical and scientifically sound manner.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Lynne, yes, it is disgusting isn't it? Glad you posted funding chart $$$. gotta get ready for my niece's wedding today; later, Bettyg Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
Sen. Grassley's response may have been disturbing, but at least it was honest.
What was less honest, unless I am misunderstanding something, is that he won't cosponsor health bills because they come before the Finance Committee, which he chairs.
Actually, the Lyme legislation was referred to the Health subcommittee of the Labor Committee. And Senators sponsor and cosponsor legislation before their own committees all the time. That one doesn't pass the smell test.
One of the reasons funding for breast cancer funding is so high is because of Members of Congress who had it personally or had a family member with it.
That and the breast cancer survivors have terrific lobbying organizations at the federal level.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
quote:Originally posted by lesley1954:
Sen. Grassley's response may have been disturbing, but at least it was honest.
What was less honest, unless I am misunderstanding something, is that he a WON'T cosponsor health bills because they come before the Finance Committee, which he chairs.
Yes, Lesley, you are correct in your understanding of the 2nd paragraph; that is what I was told!
Yes, his asst. was being honest with me, which I appreciated vs. lying. Bettyg
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