Title: To provide for the expansion of Federal efforts concerning the prevention, education, treatment, and research activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including the establishment of a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 1/31/2007)
Related Bills: S.1708
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
SUMMARY AS OF: 1/31/2007--Introduced.
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding how officials can:
(1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases;
(2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases;
(3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups;
(4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints is represented in public heath policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced; and
(5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the appropriate federal officials, to provide for the coordination of all federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including:
(1) developing sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools and tests,
(2) improving the efficient utilization of diagnostic testing currently available;
(3) accurately determining the prevalence of such diseases;
(4) evaluating the feasibility of creating a national uniform reporting system;
(5) providing and promoting access to a clearinghouse of information on such diseases;
(6) increasing public education related to such diseases;
(7) creating a physician education program;
(8) establishing epidemiological research objectives to determine the long term course of illness for Lyme disease; and
(9) determining the effectiveness of different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome objectives
ALL ACTIONS:
1/31/2007: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 2/2/2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
COSPONSORS(110), BY DATE
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 1/31/2007 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 1/31/2007 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 1/31/2007 Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 1/31/2007 Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 1/31/2007 Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 1/31/2007 Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 1/31/2007 Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 1/31/2007 Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 1/31/2007 Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 1/31/2007 Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 1/31/2007 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/31/2007 Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 1/31/2007 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 2/12/2007 Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 2/12/2007 Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 2/12/2007 Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 2/15/2007 Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 2/15/2007 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 2/15/2007 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 2/28/2007 Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 2/28/2007 Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 2/28/2007 Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 2/28/2007 Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 2/28/2007 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 3/1/2007 Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 3/1/2007 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 3/7/2007 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 3/7/2007 Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 3/9/2007 Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 3/9/2007 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 3/22/2007 Rep Drake, Thelma D. [VA-2] - 3/28/2007 Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 4/17/2007 Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 4/17/2007 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 4/17/2007 Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 4/17/2007 Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 4/17/2007 Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] - 4/17/2007 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 4/17/2007 Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 4/17/2007 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 4/17/2007 Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 4/20/2007 Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 4/20/2007 Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 4/20/2007 Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 4/24/2007 Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 4/24/2007 Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 4/24/2007 Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 4/24/2007 Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 4/24/2007 Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 4/25/2007 Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 4/25/2007 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 4/25/2007 Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 4/25/2007 Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 4/25/2007 Rep Reynolds, Thomas M. [NY-26] - 4/25/2007 Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 4/25/2007 Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 4/25/2007 Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 4/25/2007 Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5] - 4/25/2007 Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] - 4/26/2007 Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 4/26/2007 Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 4/26/2007 Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 5/2/2007 Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 5/2/2007 Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 5/2/2007 Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 5/2/2007 Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 5/2/2007 Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 5/2/2007 Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 5/2/2007 Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 5/2/2007 Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 5/2/2007 Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 5/2/2007 Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 5/2/2007 Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 5/8/2007 Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 5/8/2007 Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 5/14/2007 Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 5/15/2007 Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 5/23/2007 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 5/24/2007 Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 6/6/2007 Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 6/7/2007 Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 6/8/2007 Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 6/11/2007 Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 6/19/2007 Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 6/25/2007 Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] - 6/25/2007 Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 7/17/2007 Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 8/3/2007 Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 9/7/2007 Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 10/1/2007 Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] - 10/2/2007 Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 10/22/2007 Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 10/22/2007 Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] - 11/5/2007 Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 11/9/2007 Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 11/14/2007
2008 Additions
Rep Weldon, Dave [FL-15] - 1/15/2008 Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 3/11/2008 Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 4/1/2008 Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 4/8/2008 Rep Keller, Ric [FL-8] - 4/8/2008 Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 4/9/2008 Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 4/14/2008 Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 4/17/2008 Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 4/23/2008 Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 4/30/2008 Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 5/8/2008 Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 5/13/2008 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 6/4/2008 Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] - 6/4/2008
[ 06. June 2008, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: pineapple ]
Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
Updated 2-29-08 - Cosponsors = 14
S. 1708
Title: A bill to provide for the expansion of Federal efforts concerning the prevention, education, treatment, and research activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including the establishment of a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 6/27/2007)
Related Bills: H.R.741
Latest Major Action: 6/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
SUMMARY AS OF: 6/27/2007--Introduced.
Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding how officials can:
(1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases;
(2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases;
(3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups;
(4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints is represented in public heath policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced; and
(5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the appropriate federal officials, to provide for the coordination of all federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including:
(1) developing sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools and tests,
(2) improving the efficient utilization of diagnostic testing currently available;
(3) accurately determining the prevalence of such diseases;
(4) evaluating the feasibility of creating a national uniform reporting system;
(5) providing and promoting access to a clearinghouse of information on such diseases;
(6) increasing public education related to such diseases;
(7) creating a physician education program;
(8) establishing epidemiological research objectives to determine the long term course of illness for Lyme disease; and
(9) determining the effectiveness of different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome objectives
COSPONSORS(13), BY DATE:
Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE] - 6/27/2007 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 6/27/2007 Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 7/16/2007 Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 7/20/2007 Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 8/2/2007 Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 9/18/2007 Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 9/18/2007 Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 10/4/2007 Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 10/16/2007 Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 12/3/2007 Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 12/3/2007 Sen Webb, Jim [VA] - 12/3/2007 Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 1/24/2008 Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 2/7/2008
[ 29. February 2008, 03:46 AM: Message edited by: pineapple ]
Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
Visit the Lyme Disease Association's legislative page for helpful information about contacting your representatives. It gives examples of telephone calls or letters.
pineapple, please add the date you posted this to your subject line since we have several DIFERENT POSTS about these as well as their HR and SENATE numbers on other ones.
to edit, click pencil icon to right, and then ad date to subject line. BIG THANKS!
i finally got IOWA'S TOM LATHAM to co-sign the HR bills come on IOWANS; GET THE OTHER 4 EOPLE TO SIGN ON..
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Thanks pinapple...
Add one more to the Senators list!!!
We just got word that Senator Ben Cardin (Maryland) signed on as a cosponsor!!!
Hot diggity dawgs!
Only ONE more legislator in Maryland to go!!! All 8 House members are cosponsors and one Senator is now.
If you want.. call Senator Barbara Mikulski's office.. the only hold out... and ask her to please sign on too!
1-202-224-4654
Thanks!
Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
HELLO Lymenetters....
Is YOUR state signed on as a cosponsor? Write or call them as soon as possible!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
pineapple, thanks for update and also showing the NEWEST ones signing on as a co\sponsor.
pineapple, are all YOUR state's house reps/senators signed on here too?
couldn't resist. as flip wilson would say, "the devil made me do that"! Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
UP for those that care.... Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
Updated
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
pineapple, big THANKS for updating both bills; i was going to look about them since we are gettng ALL PRESIDENTICAL CANDIDATES SWAMPING IOWA 24/7 !!
senate version has been signed by these candidates:
DODD, HILLARY CLINTON, AND OBAMA
house version ...NO candidates have co-sponsored!!
i did notice that finally iowa's tom latham R finally signed after me hounding him for 9 months.
come on IOWANS; get the other 4; BOSWELL co-signed 1st time; but not this time.
iowa senators grassley, chair finance committee, and sen. harkin, chair health committee, will NOT co-sponnnsor any bills due to their leadership role!
read where tincup and other marylanders got ALL their DC reps/senators signed!! good for them. Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
i was just checking, and bringing this up to top.
someone recommended RON PAUL;
i looked for his name in HR and Senate bills ... HE HAS NOT SIGNED ON AS CO-SPONSOR!~
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
GREAT NEWS Pinapple!
Another Florida rep signed on!!!
Now there are 97 co-sponsors on the bill!!!
Good job!!! And thank you!!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
fyi, I just sent Lou B a note asking him to make this a STICKY FEATURE at top ABOVE Jenifer's since Pineapple's has CURRENT info on both S 1708 and HR 741.
I'm sure he'll do asap due to health problems too. Posted by AmyPW8 (Member # 11504) on :
I contacted my reps in MO. None of them were on the list of co-sponsors. So, now I will pray and persist. Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
I just wrote to both NJ Senators. I mistakenly thought they were listed as co-sponsors.
This is NOT good!
my two cents to each Senator: (If anyone wants to copy & change personal details to suit their own situation, they are welcome to) ---------------------------------------------------
It appears to me that you have not signed on as co-sponsor to the following bill:
S. 1708
Title: A bill to provide for the expansion of Federal efforts concerning the prevention, education, treatment, and research activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including the establishment of a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 6/27/2007)
Related Bills: H.R.741
As Lyme & other Tick-borne diseases are a VERY serious problem in our state, I am wondering what your position is on this bill.
I personally am affected by Lyme, as are 5 out of 5 families on my Street. Two are known to be have been affected by Babesiosis, a rarely suspected co-infection in Middlesex County.
Through my research of these diseases, I have found that there is not nearly enough being done to understand them and properly disseminate information to local physicians. I believe that anything that addresses these issues would be greatly beneficial and long overdue.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I anxiously await your response.
i checked to see if any of the other 4 iowa house reps had SIGNED up as co-sponsors; NO, after many emails and my phone calls last friday! Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
An update >>>>> 106 cosponsors
Keep up the great work. See my list at the top of this thread.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
thanks pineapple!!
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Sen. Edward Kennedy has malignant brain tumor By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago
A cancerous brain tumor caused the seizure Sen. Edward M. Kennedy suffered over the weekend, doctors said Tuesday in a grim diagnosis for one of American politics' most enduring figures. "He remains in good spirits and full of energy," the doctors for the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.
They said tests conducted after the seizure showed a tumor in Kennedy's left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.
His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.
Kennedy has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.
"He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital," said the statement by Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy's primary care physician.
They said Kennedy will remain in the hospital "for the next couple of days according to routine protocol."
Kennedy's wife and children have been with him each day since he was hospitalized. Senator Kennedy's son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., plans to stay at the hospital for the time being.
"Obviously it's tough news for any son to hear," said spokeswoman Robin Costello. "He's comforted by the fact that his dad is such a fighter, and if anyone can get through something as challenging as this, it would be his father. So he's optimistic, he's hopeful, but obviously he's concerned."
President Bush was notified by his staff of Kennedy's diagnosis at 1:20 p.m.
"He said he was deeply saddened and would keep Senator Kennedy in his prayers," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year -- and the most common type among adults. It's an initial diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.
Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types -- such as glioblastomas -- or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.
News of the diagnosis hit hard for colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
"I'm really sad," former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., said when told in a Senate hallway about Kennedy's condition. "He's the one politician who brings tears to my eyes when he speaks."
"I am so deeply saddened I have lost the words," Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said in a Senate hallway. Warner said he and Kennedy had been friends for 40 years. Both served on the Senate Armed Services Committee together.
Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate and a dominant figure in national Democratic Party politics, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.
His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.
Kennedy is active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts. He has made several campaign appearances for Sen. Barack Obama in February, and most recently last month.
Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts and the Senate's second-longest serving member, was re-elected in 2006 and is not up for election again until 2012.
Were he to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs.
___
AP reporter Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed to this report.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
quote:Originally posted by TickSick: Note to AllG:
Senator Frank Lautenberg IS a co-sponsor of the S 1708 bill, as of 2/07/08, according to the list posted by Pineapple.
Thanks for the FYI.
His sponsorship status had not been updated when I wrote to him (please note the edit date of 2/29/08, which was to add the 14th co-sponsor).
It was obviously NOT my letter that helped his decision. Oh well, at least I was trying.
Though my efforts were well-intentioned, based on the information available to me at the time, it is obvious that others who had taken action before me are due the credit for his signing on.
Now I think we "New Jerseyans" need to focus some more attention on getting Menendez to sign on.
TickSick, have you written to/called Menendez yet, assuming you are from NJ, as well?
I am going to write again & make some calls.
I already have my HR, but have been working Rep.Pallone, subcommittee Chairman.
BTW- Thanks for the spell-check reminder, it would have been REALLY embarrassing if I had been misspelling it in my letters.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Looks like some newer additions:
HR
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 6/17/2008 Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 7/9/2008 Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 9/16/2008 Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 9/16/2008
Senate
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 6/18/2008
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Congrats CA, you added a Representative!!!
Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 9/27/2008
Post-election, from what I can see:
The only Senator we've lost was Obama. Hopefully his new position will work to our advantage.
The following supportive Representatives have been ousted:
We'd better get busy again to spread the word!!! Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
Pineapple,
I am currently writing to Sr. Lautenberg, a NJ rep. and was copying your sample letter dated 4/2/08 from the LDA in my email, and also in regular mail.
Would this be a good one to use??? i dont want to send the wrong thing.
Please HELP. Want to become active against lyme. Thanks.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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if I had been misspelling it in my letters.
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