Many jumped to contact our reps by phone and email and it was last week........any outcome heard?
Or was it a total waste of our time? Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
It didn't pass before the end of session. That doesn't mean it's a waste of time.
It often takes years for legislation to pass. Congressional offices remember the calls they got in previous sessions for an issue. The more they hear from us the better.
Posted by tothepoorhouse (Member # 8595) on :
Thanks Aniek....I'm just not sure if some us will be around by the time it gets passed.
Do we know why? Was it attached to another bill that they turned down? I learned a while ago that's how they bury things. Link it to something else they all just say no to....
What next? I still say it's the blood contributing issue that will work for us...if it's true they won't take it or worse, if they don't know and say, ok, come on in to give! .
I may call the red cross tomorrow to see if they will let me give blood in the state I am.
I wouldn't take or want blood from me given to a family member .....but maybe they say they will. I'll ask and let you know.
We have to find an edge to get media attention. Politics don't seem to work. Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Don't think Barton ever let it out of committee for a vote. He did let the autism bill come for a vote and it was passed. He will not be the chairman of the committee in the next congress.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
There are thousands of bills introduced every year. Most of those bills never get discussed.
They were so behind in the budget process this year that they didn't even finish before the Congress ended. I have a friend who works for a Senator who was there until 2am Saturday night.
As somebody who works in policy, our system is completely broken. As an activist, I know the only way we will see change is through numbers. We need more people, more activists, more money.
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
Another possible reason this bill went nowhere in the final weeks is that its chief sponsor, Rep Chris Smith (R-NJ), spent his attention scheduling consideration of a different bill to require that women undergoing abortions be informed that their fetuses may experience pain. By all accounts this bill had no chance of becoming law.
Maybe in the new Congress the Lyme advocacy community will consider seeking a bill sponsor who places a higher priority on passing Lyme disease legislation.
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