pmerv
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posted
Let's start over - The information posted under the subject line Current Status was out of date, I didn't notice and copied into my previous email. I asked the moderator to delete it but they haven't. I will try to answer questions posted under that thread in this thread!
Dear People, I hope you know we currently have 2 companion bills in the US House and Senate. I thought we should have a thread that clearly stated Federal Lyme Bills. We really have to start working seriously on getting these bills passed.
My thought is that many people will NOT do something because they think someone else is doing something. Have you done anything yet?
How do we overcome that natural human inertia? Let's keep this thread alive and post when WE PERSONALLY do something. We will assume that NO ONE is doing anything unless we see evidence. That should clear the fog and I hope will NOT reveal the profound apathy of the thousands of Lyme patients in this country!
Please let us know here when you contact your legislators, what you did, what they said, any problems you encountered, hints for others.
Since 9/11 it has been better to PHONE or FAX rather than write letters. (Letters are quarantined for weeks, and email is not thought to be as highly regarded.) Letters can be very short!
Tell the person who answers the phone that you are calling to ask your legislator to support [give the bill number, HR 3427 if you are talking to your congressman, S .1479 if you are talking to your senator]. They may ask for your zip code. Basically they just tally the calls. The more calls they get, the better for our bills.
TO FIND THE LATEST BILL INFORMATION Go to http://Thomas.loc.gov Type in the bill number (e.g. hr 3427) You can read the entire text of the bill. Select Bill Summary and Status Click on Co-sponsors to find out whether your legislator has signed on.
Here's what is there this week.
H.R.3427 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 7/26/2005) Cosponsors (13) Related Bills: S.1479 Latest Major Action: 8/5/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. COSPONSORS(13), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 10/7/2005 Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 10/7/2005 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 9/7/2005 Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 9/7/2005 Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 7/26/2005 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 11/15/2005 Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 10/3/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 10/7/2005 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] - 9/7/2005 Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 10/20/2005 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 10/7/2005
S.1479 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 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (4) Related Bills: H.R.3427 Latest Major Action: 7/25/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. COSPONSORS(4), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 10/4/2005 Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] - 9/28/2005 Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 7/25/2005 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 7/29/2005
I will be posting updates periodically. If anyone wants to help me, I'd appreciate it. One idea I had was to contact all group leaders in the country and ask them to contact their people. I did this for the other bill earlier this year, but now we have new companion bills. Anyone want to take that job on?
Please let's keep each other up to date on what we do to promote these bills. This is my contribution for this week. I am also going to post this on other groups I am on. I have not yet contacted my own legislator. When I do I will post the letter. I will probably do it on CALDA letterhead and fax it. I will probably fax it to ALL the California congresspeople. I can set up my computer to fax automatically, once I enter all the fax #s, which I can get off the JUAN site. It will take a while and I may not get to it until after Christmas. Meanwhile, I hope others will be setting up appointments and writing and calling. I doubt the legislators will not be impressed unless they hear from hundreds of us. Phyllis CALDA
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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posted
Neil Martin wrote:
hanks for all your efforts and this post.
I called Sens Kyl & McCain. Rep. Kolbe's email back said he'll consider my views. It seems like yesterdays we saw the end of a year approach with a Lyme bill stuck in the House. To which camp will tax $ go? Vacation time: Gotta go!!
This years' was good writ but if it dies how about a "Resend" w/ only a few thou$ for either camp TO HELP GET IT SIGNED.
-------------------- Neil
HI Neil, thanks for replying. Because of my error you are going to have to make sure you told the legislators the right bill numbers, or they may sign onto bills we are not supporting.
If each chamber of Congress passes different bills, the language has to be reconciled in Conference Committee. It is safer to start out with the same language in both chambers. H.R.3427 and S.1479 are companion bills with identical language. They may be amended as they pass through, but they will be closer than if non-companion bills are passed.
Phyllis Mervine
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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cantgiveupyet wrote:
"I sent it twice to Spector and Santorum. Santorum who is already on the lyme bill sent me a very nice letter back saying he is doing everything possible to get this passed. Do you know how close they are to being passed?"
Please read my response to Neil. Since we only have one Senate bill, there is no problem. It's in the House where we have 3 - the Kelly bill, the Smith bill, and finally, DA-DA!! The Smith-Kelly Bill!!
The Smith-Kelly Bill is the companion bill to the Santorum bill.
Neither one is remotely close to being passed at this point, with very few co-sponsors. If you look at the older Lyme bills (which you can find on http://thomas.loc.gov by typing "lyme" into the search box [4 bills will show up] you can see who signed on to which bill. All these people are sympathetic and approachable - they already have signed on to one Lyme bill. We just have to persuade them to sign onto the new bill, which is basically a compromise of the older bills. See what you can do.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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posted
bettyg wrote in other thread on federal bills [I'm going to ask the moderator to delete the other one]
Hi,
I got a letter from Iowa Sen .Chuck Grassley dated Oct. 17, 05 & RECD 11-29-05.
"Thank you for your further correspondence about federal efforts to fight lyme disease. It's important for me to hear from you. Please accept my apology for the delay in my response.
I am aware that Sen. Dodd has introduced S1479. I understand the prevalence of lyme disease in Iowa, and appreciate the info you have provided to me. You can be assured that I will continue to work in the interest of Iowa should the Senate consider this issue." ......Keep in touch.
I've been meaning to post this but it goet lost on my desk! can't imagane why....LOL [confused]
-------------------- bettyg, Iowa .. I'm a former secretary who typed many legal agreements. Took 5 stressful years to get SSDI, disability insurance, benefits. Approved 7-1-05; went back 3 yrs.
Betty, sounds like he will vote for it but not co-sponsor it. I'm not sure what co-sponsoring means in terms of committment of time or energy. Do you know other Iowa Lyme people? It might be worthwhile to try to locate other people with Lyme in Iowa and ask them to contact him too.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Ann-OH
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I got a bit confused by your first post, Phyllis.
I have been trying to keep people interested and have posted the changes in the cosponsor lists as they are available. I will continue to do that.
Glad to have you on board, too. Hopefully people will be goaded into action if we keep nudging them.
Linda LD
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posted
I wrote my house of rep guy, Senate memebers--Lamar Alexander and Dr. Frist (a waste of time) TWICE EACH on Friday!
Do I get a gold medal?
Linda
Posts: 1171 | From Knoxville, TN US | Registered: Dec 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
up ... Phyllis ? I think that was your name, please contact the moderators & ask that YOUR post here would be placed at the TOP of page 1 of general support so people read/act on it....
Other Iowans have written Grassley, Harkin, & Bosley...Bosley is a co-sponsor on 1st bill shown.
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pmerv
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Dorothy in California discussed the situation with someone who has some experience with lawmaking. She recommended that when we write to our individual congressional representatives, we specifically say in the letter that the bill is currently in committee and we'd like them to help push to get it out of committee. (She said it's too easy for the representatives to say: sorry, it's in committee, I can't do anything about it.) She also said it would be good to send letters to the various committee members, even though not from our area--they need to know people care about this issue. She recommended mentioning in the letters how widespread the problem is, so that even though we don't personally live in their state, it's an issue that affects the people in their state.
Thanks, Dorothy. It's plain that we have a lot of competition for attention in Congress. For your convenience, here are the names of all the subcommittee (House) and committee (Senate) members who need to be contacted. Who WE need to contact!! Pick out legislators from your own state, or heck, send your letter to ALL of them! Be brief! Don't make a huge project out of it that you will never get around to! Just tell them to get behind our bills!
If email is the best you can do, at least do that. Phone calls and faxes are preferred.
H.R.3427 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 7/26/2005) Cosponsors (13) Related Bills: S.1479 Latest Major Action: 8/5/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health Other bills on the list for this Subcommittee: This Subcommittee on Health has almost 600 pieces of legislation on its list for consideration, including H.R.5 : To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system was reffed to the Senate with 63 cosponsors; H.R.11 : To extend the temporary increase in payments under the Medicare Program for home health services furnished in a rural area was referred to the subcommittee on Health and remains there despite 68 cosponsors. Other bills with over 100 cosponsors still have not moved out of this Subcommittee. If you click on the person's name, you will get their information including phone #.
Health Subcommittee (Energy and Commerce) 2125 RHOB Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2927
Republican
Democrat
Nathan Deal, GA, Chairman Ralph M. Hall, TX Michael Bilirakis, FL Fred Upton, MI Paul E. Gillmor, OH Charlie Norwood, GA Barbara Cubin, WY John Shimkus, IL John B. Shadegg, AZ Charles W. ``Chip'' Pickering, MS Steve Buyer, IN Joseph R. Pitts, PA Mary Bono, CA Mike Ferguson, NJ, Vice Chair Mike Rogers, MI Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC Michael C. Burgess, TX Joe Barton, TX, Ex Officio Sherrod Brown, OH Henry A. Waxman, CA Edolphus Towns, NY Frank Pallone Jr., NJ Bart Gordon, TN Bobby L. Rush, IL Anna G. Eshoo, CA Gene Green, TX Ted Strickland, OH Diana DeGette, CO Lois Capps, CA Thomas H. Allen, ME Jim Davis, FL Tammy Baldwin, WI John D. Dingell, MI, Ex Officio
S.1479 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 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (4) Related Bills: H.R.3427 Latest Major Action: 7/25/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
This committee currently has 284 bills on its list. One of them, S.471 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research, has 40 cosponsors. S.334 and has been in committee since February. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes has been sitting in this committee since April, with 30 cosponsors.
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) - Website
Republicans
Democrats
* Senator Judd Gregg (NH) Website
* Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), Ranking Member Website
* Senator Bill Frist (TN) Website
* Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) Website
* Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) Website
* Senator Tom Harkin (IA) Website
* Senator Richard Burr (NC) Website
* Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) Website
* Senator Johnny Isakson (GA) Website
* Senator James Jeffords (I) (VT) Website
* Senator Mike DeWine (OH) Website
* Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) Website
* Senator John Ensign (NV) Website
* Senator Patty Murray (WA) Website
* Senator Orrin Hatch (UT) Website
* Senator Jack Reed (RI) Website
* Senator Jeff Sessions (AL) Website
* Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) Website
* Senator Pat Roberts (KS) Website
Folks, sorry the URLs do not show up live in the post. Your best bet is to go to http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ to find contact info for your legislators.
Remember, please let me know when you actually have called, written, or emailed. I only have heard from Dorothy, Suzanne, Deb (who actually had breakfast with Hillary Clinton), and Lee (who said it was on her list). These people are from CA.[and a few others on this list] Also Jill from NY talked with someone in CA Senator Boxer's office and it looks like she is on board. Sue and Kris and Nick Harris have offered to go see CA Cong. Ashoo who is on the Health Comm. Folks we're going to have to do a lot better than this to pass those bills! Make sure you get the right bill #s (see first post in this thread)
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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California Senator Barbara Boxer and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed have signed onto S. 1479. We are up to 6 cosponsors in the Senate. We need a lot more for the bill to move.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Linda LD
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I have written him a half dozen times--please keep the pressure on.
linda
Posts: 1171 | From Knoxville, TN US | Registered: Dec 2004
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pmerv
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We added one new congressman this week: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 12/14/2005
Senators hold steady at 6.
I have an appt to meet with an aide of CA congressman Mike Thompson in early January. I'm not on my home computer but will compile a list soon of everyone who is actually doing anything! It's not an overwhelming number but it's a start.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Have phoned Feinstein's office re S 1479 and Rep. Woolsey re HR 3427 also. Woolsey's office had cosponsored Rep Smith's first bill and didn't realized that the new bill supercedes it, so I explained that they now had to cosponsor this one. Will do more calling next week.
CA Quest
Posts: 101 | From CA, USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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pmerv
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Good job. I suspect if people went to the Thomas website (http://thomas.loc.gov) and typed in "lyme" and then looked at the info for the original 2 House bills, they would find a long list of legislators who signed onto the first bill (especially the Kelly bill) who might be willing to switch over to the new bill. Here, I'll make it easy for you. Read the first post in this thread to find out how to contact your congressperson.
H.R.2526 Title: To establish a Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] (introduced 5/23/2005) Cosponsors (50) Latest Major Action: 6/3/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. COSPONSORS(50), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 6/27/2005 Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 7/18/2005 Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 9/20/2005 Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 6/30/2005 Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 5/23/2005 Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 6/15/2005 Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 6/28/2005 Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 6/22/2005 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 6/22/2005 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 6/27/2005 Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 5/26/2005 Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 7/14/2005 Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 6/7/2005 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 5/23/2005 Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 6/7/2005 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 5/23/2005 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 5/23/2005 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/23/2005 Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 6/22/2005 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/23/2005 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 6/7/2005 Rep Johnson, Nancy L. [CT-5] - 6/29/2005 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 6/13/2005 Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/23/2005 Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 6/7/2005 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 6/7/2005 Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 6/30/2005 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 6/15/2005 Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 6/22/2005 Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 5/26/2005 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/12/2005 Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 6/13/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 5/23/2005 Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 5/26/2005 Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 6/30/2005 Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 6/28/2005 Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 5/23/2005 Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/28/2005 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 6/29/2005 Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 6/28/2005 Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 6/30/2005 Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 7/20/2005 Rep Simmons, Rob [CT-2] - 6/7/2005 Rep Strickland, Ted [OH-6] - 6/7/2005 Rep Sweeney, John E. [NY-20] - 5/23/2005 Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 6/30/2005 Rep Weldon, Curt [PA-7] - 6/15/2005 Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 5/26/2005 Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 6/15/2005 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 5/23/2005
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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Yesterday I made up a folder I am taking to my meeting with congressman Mike Thompson's aide tomorrow. I put all the ingredients on our calda website, http://calda.intranets.com You can use anything you like from it, plus other things from the website. There are a lot of handouts etc. I put the papers in a notebook and then put the attachments behind the letter, separated with color coded tabs. I put brochures and a LymeTimes in the pockets. It looks pretty good. I can use the attachments as talking points - just telling the aide what's going on with LD in California. That will make it easier and then she will have something to hand to the congressman. Let us know how YOUR meeting goes!! I will!
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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Gotcha! Only ONE person complained she could not access the info I posted on calda.intranets.com so I know you all are either not using it or not writing your legislators at all!! I think I have fixed the problem AND I have added a FORM LETTER!!! Now you don't even have to write your own! I suggest you add your own paragraph but you don't have to. Please go to http://calda.intranets.com and look under political letters and materials - federal/materials for legislators. Let me know if you have any problems.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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Who has contacted whom, alphabetically by state
We are still holding steady at 14 House supporters and 6 Senate supporters of the Lyme companion bills, S. 1479 and HR 3427. If you don't see your state listed, it means no one has signed on and no one I know has contacted his/her legislators. More people need to call. Let me know when you do so I can update our list.
Arizona Neil Martin contacted Senators Kyl and McCain and Rep. Kolbe.
California Phyllis M met with Rep. Thompson's aide. Others are talking about meeting with Rep. Anna Eshoo. Some met with Rep. Sam Farr and he signed on 10/7/2005) CA quest called Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Woolsey. Michelle says she will call Rep. Dreier. Dr. Stricker wrote to Rep. Lantos. Senator Boxer signed on thanks to Jill in NY. Shirley M emailed Senator Feinstein and Congressman Jerry Lewis and thanked Boxer for signing on.
Connecticut Sen. Dodd authored the Senate bill. Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] signed on 10/20/2005.
Illinois Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] signed on 10/3/2005.
Iowa bettyg contacted Senator Grassley. She says other Iowans have contacted Senators Grassley and Harkin and Rep. Boswell. Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] signed on 9/7/2005.
Kansas Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] signed on 9/7/2005.
Maryland Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] signed on 9/7/2005
Maine Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] signed on 10/4/2005.
New Jersey Sen. Chris Smith authored the House bill.
New York Rep Kelly, Sue [NY-19] signed on 7/26/2005. Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] signed on 7/29/2005. Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] signed on 9/7/2005. Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] signed on 10/7/2005. Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] signed on 11/15/2005. Deb S(CT) had breakfast with Sen.Hillary Clinton but she has not signed on yet. Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] signed on 12/14/2005.
Oregon Theresa and Rosemarie both have contacted both house and Senate by Fax, and no less than five times by phone. They developed an Oregon specific letter and sent it with some very staggering statistics.
Pennsylvania Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] authored the Senate bill. cantgiveupyet contacted Senators Spector and Santorum. Rep English, Phil [PA-3] signed on 10/7/2005
Rhode Island Sen. Reed signed on. Deb (CT) also spoke with Sen. Chaffee's aide but he has not signed on yet.
Tennessee Linda LD wrote Senators Alexander and Frist and her Congressman.
Vermont Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] signed on 9/28/2005.
Virginia Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] signed on 9/7/2005. Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] signed on. 10/7/2005.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
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I hate talking to myself all the time! Please let me know who you contact and I'll update the list. It isn't that hard.
Before I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, I was in a pottery class. I had been feeling like sh*t for years but couldn't figure out what was wrong. A neighbor also in the class who had been diagnosed and treated for Lyme kept bugging me every week, or twice a week for months before I got it together to get myself tested. So I do understand inertia.
However I would appreciate help in bugging people to bug their legislators - if we all bug each other enough maybe we can get these bills passed.
BTW, I've seen bills with 50+ legislators signed on that are still not out of committee, so we have a lo-o-o-ong way to go. But don't give up!!! Send those letters!
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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map1131
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posted
I contacted Senator Mitch McConnell KY Rep and heard back from him on Nov 1 05. Keeping my story for consideration.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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NP40
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posted
I've contacted every Wis. congressperson as well as Sen. Kohl and Feingold. It appears that Rep. Tammy Baldwin has signed on. I know other WI. group members have been in contact as well.
This is one of the most endemic states in the country there's no excuse for them not signing on. We'll keep pushing.
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
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I realize that what follows may be a lot of repeated info that is already present in this thread.
However, my federal Congressional contact has asked me to share some comments with the Lyme community and because of that request, I am willing to possibly repeat what I consider to be very important information.
Following is basically a message from my 'contact' - although I admit to taking some liberties in the presentation - to make it easier for ME to read, and hopefully for you, too.
Thank you in advance for doing what you can to support this very important Lyme legislation.
I know that many of you have been very active in supporting this effort, and I do not presume to know more or have done more than anyone else here. As a matter of fact, I acknowledge that I have yet to fully do my part.
I know many of us have become rather cynical, especially when it comes to whether government entities really care about our health & well-being.
I just ask that you take a deep breath and try to keep the faith and remember that those people in office that have this bill in their hands...they do not work for the CDC or the NIH.
To my knowledge they did not work at Plum Island nor are they the ones that decided Lyme Disease would make a great biowarfare weapon.
As a matter of fact - some of our elected officials and their staff members...THEY, too have been personally infected and/or affected by LD. If they have not - they need to be told - OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
Many of you have friends and family that, although they are relatively clueless about the true personal misery that LD can cause - they have seen it in YOU. They have watched YOU suffer and that counts for something! Their voice counts too!
I urge you to forward this appeal - this simple 'to do' list on to them - perhaps even using it as an opportunity to open a dialogue with them about LD and it's far reaching implications.
Again, please save your cynicism for other matters (and look who's saying that!) and consider doing what you can with regards to pushing this legislation to the attention of Congress and our nation.
2005 saw some significant progress on advancing important research and funding issues in Congress on Lyme disease, however NOW is the time to act to assure real progress before the end of this session of Congress.
Everyone who cares at all about this disease or simply wants to help out someone who does can make an important difference.
Below are some simple, but effective steps you can take to advance this issue, listed in order of importance.
If you have the time to do them all, that's great. If not, do what you can and pass this along to others.
The two most important tools that the Lyme community has are:
1. The fact that everyone we talk to seems to know someone who has suffered from Lyme Disease
AND
2. A large email & personal rolodex of people from many different Congressional districts.
So please make your appeals personal, and please enlist as many people as you possibly can to CALL their own member of Congress for help.
A note about contacting a Congressional office: Snail mail is very slow due to security measures, but a personal note - however brief - is still primarily, the most effective. Second would be a phone call (with a request for a response) or fax of a note, followed by an email.
No matter what, it's important that your appeal for action be personal, and you ask for a response.
The main bill to advocate is H.R. 3427, the Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2005. This is a bill introduced jointly by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and Rep. Sue Kelly of New York - the most recognized advocates for Lyme.
In Summary: #1 People should CALL THEIR OWN FEDERAL CONGRESSMAN AND ASK THAT HE OR SHE CO-SPONSOR H.R. 3427, the Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2005.
If you don't know who your Representative is, you can look that up with your zip code at http://www.house.gov/ . This page will also give you their contact info, or you can call the main switchboard for Congress at 202-224-3121 and ask for that office.
#2 You should forward this to everyone you know and ask them to do the action above.
#3 H.R. 3427 was referred to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, and within that, the Subcommittee on Health. The Chairman of the Health Subcommittee is Rep. Nathan Deal (GA).
Therefore, people should call or write Rep. Nathan Deal asking for a favorable hearing on this bill. His Capitol Hill address is:
2133 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-1009. Phone: (202) 225-5211 Fax: 202-225-8272.
#4 If this is really important to you, you can start contacting the individual members of the Health subcommittee and ask them to co-sponsor the bill.
If you see your own Congressman on this committee, you get a two-for-one which is great. And while members of Congress are much less responsive to people from outside their district, it is a huge boost to get members of the actual committee of jurisdiction to co-sponsor a bill. This is something the Chairman will look at when deciding whether or not to bring it up for consideration.
The list of Heath Committee members will follow at the bottom.
Remember, the more people you get into this fight, the wider net we can cast for co-sponsors. If you know anyone who may do this for you as a personal favor, just forward this to them.
Contacts don't have to be sophisticated, just personal and sincere.
HEALTH SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Nathan Deal, Georgia (10th), Chairman 2437 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5211 FAX: (202)-225-8272
Ralph M. Hall, Texas (14th) 2405 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6673 FAX( 202)-225-3332
Michael Bilirakis, Florida (9th) 2269 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5755 FAX: (202)-225-4085
Fred Upton, Michigan (6th) 2161 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3761 Fax: (202) 225-4986
Paul E. Gillmor, Ohio (5th) 1203 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6405 FAX: (202)-225-1985
Charlie Norwood, Georgia (9th) 1707 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4101 Fax: (202)-226-0776
Barbara Cubin, Wyoming 1114 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2311 Fax: (202) 225-3057
John Shimkus, Illinois (19th) 513 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5271 Fax: (202) 225-5880
John B. Shadegg, Arizona (3rd) 306 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3361 FAX: (202) 225-3462
Charles "Chip" Pickering, MS (3rd) 229 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5031 FAX: (202)-225-5797
Steve Buyer, Indiana (4th) 2230 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5037 FAX: (202)-225-2267
Joseph R. Pitts, Pennsylvania (16th) 204 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2411 FAX: (202)- 225-2013
Mary Bono, California (45th) 404 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5330 Fax: (202) 225-2961
Mike Ferguson, New Jersey (7th) 214 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5361 FAX: (202) 225-9460
Mike Rogers, Michigan (8th) 133 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4872 Fax: (202) 225-5820
Sue Myrick, North Carolina (9th) 230 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-1976 Fax:( 202) 225-3389
Michael Burgess, Texas (26th) 1721 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-7772 FAX: (202)-225- 2919
Joe Barton, Texas (6th) 2109 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2002 Fax-(202) 225-3052
Sherrod Brown, Ohio (13th), Ranking Member 2332 Rayburn HOB House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3401 FAX-(202) 225-2266
Henry A. Waxman, California (30th) 2204 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3976 FAX- (202)-225-4099
Edolphus Towns, New York (10th) 2232 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5936 Fax: (202) 225-1018
Frank Pallone Jr., New Jersey (6th) 420 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4671 FAX: (202) 225-9665
Bart Gordon, Tennessee (6th) 2368 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4231 FAX: (202)-225-4231
Bobby L. Rush, Illinois (1st) 2416 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4372 FAX: (202)-226-0333
Anna G. Eshoo, California (14th) 205 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-8104 FAX: (202)-225-8890
Gene Green, Texas (6th) 2335 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-1688 FAX: (202)-225-9903
Ted Strickland, Ohio (6th) 336 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5705 FAX: (202)-225-9507
Diana DeGette, Colorado (1st) 1530 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4431 FAX: (202)-225-5657
Lois Capps, California (23rd) 1118 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3601 FAX: (202)-225-5632
Tom Allen, Maine (1st) 1717 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6116 FAX: (202)-225-5590
Jim Davis, Florida (11th) 409 Cannon HOB House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3376 FAX: (202)-225-5652
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (2nd) 1022 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202)-225-2906 FAX: (202)-225-6942
John D. Dingell, Michigan (15th) 2328 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4071 FAX: (202)-225-4671
-------------------- DR. Wiseass NOT a real doc - just a real wise Posts: 792 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
thanks Wiseass Here's an idea: my computer will send faxes automatically. I can write ONE letter, put a name on it, add it to my Fax file with a fax number, then change the name on it, add it to my Fax file with a different Fax #, and so on, until I have a whole list of faxes ready to go to different people. It does mean you have to type in fax numbers and maybe names to go with them, but they can be used again once they are in there. I bet your computers will do that, too, and you can send faxes to all these people. Try it.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Yes, my computer has a fax on it too - but since I have DSL now, I'm kinda confused as to how that works...and my feverish lymebrain is not working properly at this time.
Anyone with suggestions?
I DO also have a regular fax machine that I AM willing to stand up and fax to all those different people, but I would prefer not to incur all those long-distance fax charges if I can. Don't get me wrong - I am certainly WILLING to spend a little long distance change for THE CAUSE...I'm just frugile and would like the easiest way possible.
So...standing by for suggestions about that one.
-------------------- DR. Wiseass NOT a real doc - just a real wise Posts: 792 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Thank you for the new info/list to work with regarding Comittee members.
and good to know the above list will consider those of us outside their districts!
So far all I have done is faxed Clinton and Sweeney in NY, then the Alito business hit, followed by the bill in the house slashing medicaid.
I may have been wrong, but I assumed especially through the Alito filibuster as phones in DC were backlogged.. that I should wait on following up.
NOW, tho, I think is a good time to start in again.
Since I heard nothing, I will fax those two again and then follow up.. and get working on the rest of your suggestions.
I hope folks focus on your above post, the Commitee members as well as their OWN legislators.
And forwarding the request of a simple call from friends and family members is another easy and effective way to help.
Reposting as well, your list of the legislators who were signed on to the last Lyme Bill, and may simply need to know that there is a new one in order to come on board:
THOSE WHO SIGNED ON THE 'OLD' BILL, that need to be contacted regarding the new one AND ASK THAT HE OR SHE CO-SPONSOR H.R. 3427, the Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2005.
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 6/27/2005 Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 7/18/2005 Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 9/20/2005 Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 6/30/2005 Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 5/23/2005 Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 6/15/2005 Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 6/28/2005 Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 6/22/2005 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 6/22/2005 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 6/27/2005 Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 5/26/2005 Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 7/14/2005 Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 6/7/2005 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 5/23/2005 Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 6/7/2005 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 5/23/2005 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 5/23/2005 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/23/2005 Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 6/22/2005 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/23/2005 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 6/7/2005 Rep Johnson, Nancy L. [CT-5] - 6/29/2005 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 6/13/2005 Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/23/2005 Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 6/7/2005 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 6/7/2005 Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 6/30/2005 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 6/15/2005 Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 6/22/2005 Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 5/26/2005 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/12/2005 Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 6/13/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 5/23/2005 Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 5/26/2005 Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 6/30/2005 Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 6/28/2005 Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 5/23/2005 Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/28/2005 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 6/29/2005 Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 6/28/2005 Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 6/30/2005 Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 7/20/2005 Rep Simmons, Rob [CT-2] - 6/7/2005 Rep Strickland, Ted [OH-6] - 6/7/2005 Rep Sweeney, John E. [NY-20] - 5/23/2005 Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 6/30/2005 Rep Weldon, Curt [PA-7] - 6/15/2005 Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 5/26/2005 Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 6/15/2005 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 5/23/2005
You are making this really easy for is, Phyllis.. Thank you!
I can't figure out my computer fax programme, I have a tip I got from other work like this that could work for some people, if you can fax a hand-written note (short and sweet but in your own writing) that can help make it personal.
Mo
-------------------- life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage -- anais nin Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
Five congresspeople have recently signed onto HR3427, Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2005 (in the House) bringing the total up to 19. Not near enough to get it out of committee, but a hopeful trend. Let's keep the pressure on!
I have posted sample letters for you to use in writing your congresspeople at http://calda.intranets.com Look under Political Letters & Materials--Federal
Letters can be as simple as "Please support HR3427" or "Please support S 1479," and phone calls are also a piece of cake. They do want to hear from constituents. A staffer will take your information, and you're done! Just do keep track of your legislators and if they don't sign on, call again! You can find contact info at www.vote-smart.org
Phyllis Mervine CALDA
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
A bunch of Washingtonians from our support group are also contacting their Reps and Senators on this. Thanks for the model letters and contact info.
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
posted
I'm not an expert on how legislation works, but I'm told that the committee chairman Barton Republican-Texas, is opposed to this bill. I'm guessing that as committee chairman he has a lot of power. Unless of course he loses his chairmanship in 2006. Lot of what if's especially for a bill that won't do anything concrete to protect doctors.
Posts: 19 | From Baltimore, MD | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I should clarify: Barton is the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee which oversees the Health sub-comittee. His staffer stated to me that Barton doesn't believe in "disease specific legislation" and that he feels the NIH should handle it. I'd still like to get a better answer.I haven't spoken to Senator Enzi's (R-WY) staff yet. Enzi is chair of the Senate Health committee. I did speak to the staff of the ranking minority members who are Dingell (D-MI) and Kennedy (D-MA). But again the majority party calls the shots.
If anyone can get a better answer from Barton's office please post.
Posts: 19 | From Baltimore, MD | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Ok, the staffer from Senator Enzi's Health Committee returned my call. She states that Senator Enzi doesn't have a position on the legislation. She states that no Senators have requested that Senator Enzi have the legislation moved out of committee. Therefore it is not a priority at this time.
Posts: 19 | From Baltimore, MD | Registered: Nov 2003
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
breaking this up for us neuro lymies...
quote:Originally posted by Brad257:
I should clarify: Barton is the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee which oversees the Health sub-comittee.
His staffer stated to me that Barton doesn't believe in "disease specific legislation" and that he feels the NIH should handle it. I'd still like to get a better answer.
I haven't spoken to Senator Enzi's (R-WY) staff yet. Enzi is chair of the Senate Health committee.
I did speak to the staff of the ranking minority members who are Dingell (D-MI) and Kennedy (D-MA). But again the majority party calls the shots.
If anyone can get a better answer from Barton's office please post.
posted
I resent another email today to Iowa's 2 state Senators: Tom Harkin & Chuck Grassley asking EACH to be a co-sponsor. I'll let you know what I hear back.
Here is a brief comment from Iowa's Sen. Tom Harkin's DC aid, Rob Barron:
"Thanks for the email Betty. I'd like to take a look at S. 1479 and get back to you. I'll make sure you get a response. Rob"
I worked w/Rob directly in Des Moines office on my SSDI; he received monthly letters from DDS advising when they would have my ALJ hearing, etc. Also did extra work for me as well.
REMINDER to all: Iowa's Sen. Tom Harkin was the one responsible for getting the DISABILITY ACT signed about 25 years ago! My gut feeling says he WILL get involved in our TICK LYME bill in the senate. Bettyg
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
HR 3427 and S 1479
Friends: we are up to 21 cosponsors in the House:
Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 7/26/2005 Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] - 9/7/2005 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 9/7/2005 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 9/7/2005 Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 10/3/2005 Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 10/7/2005 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 10/7/2005 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 10/7/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 10/7/2005 Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 10/20/2005 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 11/15/2005 Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 12/14/2005 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 2/1/2006 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 2/1/2006 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 2/1/2006 Rep Hooley, Darlene [OR-5] - 2/1/2006 Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 2/1/2006 Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 2/7/2006 Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 2/28/2006
And 8 in the Senate:
Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 7/25/2005 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 7/29/2005 Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] - 9/28/2005 Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 10/4/2005 Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 12/14/2005 Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/15/2005 Sen Chafee, Lincoln [RI] - 2/7/2006 Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 2/17/2006
Please let me know if you have contacted your legislators recently and I will update the alphabetical by state report to let you know who is doing what. When you contact your legislators, you should mention if one of the other state legislators has signed on. That will encourage the others to sign on. Please share your letters to encourage and inspire other Lyme patients. If you have already written and your legislator has not signed on, call up to find out why not. The aides are always interested to hear from constituents. Even if you feel like you don't understand the issues and don't know what to say, just the basic message that you want your legislator to support these bills is enough. The more people they hear from, the more likely we are to get what we want.
So, WRITE now, WRITE or CALL again, and SEND your letters here to share with others. Thanks!
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I'm interested in knowing whether any members of the house or senate intelligence committees have signed on as sponsors. it appears not, but has anyone contacted Bob Graham for instance and gotten a response?
Posts: 523 | From Stillwater,OK,USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
and by the way, you can forget about arlen spector supporting this bill. he's bought and paid for by the medical establishment including IDSA physicians directly associated with lyme research scandals.
Posts: 523 | From Stillwater,OK,USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Just how tangled up in the GOP Culture of Corruption is Joe Barton?
Joe Barton voted with Tom DeLay 95% of the time between Jan. 1 2004 and March 31 2005. Is this the kind of lockstep government that working families deserve?
Joe Barton voted to weaken the ethics rules in a move that many say served only to protect Tom DeLay. Does the integrity of the House mean so little that Joe Barton would sacrifice it to defend Tom DeLay?
When Democrats offered a solution to clean up the House by strengthening ethics rules, Joe Barton voted twice to make sure it never even came to an up or down vote. So instead of a bipartisan effort to get government working for Americans, Joe Barton stood for cronyism and partisan politics.
Joe Barton voted to allow Tom DeLay to continue serving as Leader even if he is indicted.
Posts: 523 | From Stillwater,OK,USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Now I want to focus on one race in particular. TX-6.
I am a scientist and have become horrified at the attacks on science under the Bush administration. Needless to say, climate research is one of the main targets of Bush and his Oil Company Cronies. One of George Bush's main attack dogs in the crusade against science has been Rep. Joe Barton, a Republican from Texas's 6th Congressional district who was recently selected as chairman of the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Barton has been using his power on the Energy and Commerce Committee to actually attack the very scientists who have been most prominent in the field of climate research, the scientists who discovered the phenomenon of global warming.
So Rep. Barton has been one of the Republicans I most want to see defeated. But he isn't just anti-science, he is outright corrupt. This Republican who has been selected as chairman of the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee and is attacking climate scientists received more than $ 200,000 in campaign donations from the oil/gas industry as well as from the electric utility industry, his two top sources of funding. This is one of the most blatant bribes--Barton is a bought-and-sold Republican doing the dirty work of the oil executives in exchange for campaign contributions.
Barton's corruption and attacks on climate scientists are covered in this article from the American Prospect.
But things get worse. Remember my list of Republican Congressmen who were too cold hearted to vote in favor of aid to the victims of Katrina, my so-called Katrina11 list. Well, Joe Barton is top of that list. Joe Barton voted against aid to Katrina victims, claiming that there wasn't enough oversight. But this is the same Joe Barton, chairman of the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee, who inserted special provisions into 2002 energy legislation to let near-bankrupt Westar Energy split off its regulated utility from its heavily indebted other businesses--a split that would facilitate saddling ratepayers with $1 billion Westar's non-utility debts. So he is MORE than willing to let a failed energy company leach off taxpayers, but is not willing to give money to poor black families who lost all they had in hurricane Katrina. Please see this article for Barton's Westar scandal as well as other aspects of his disgusting corruption.
So, Joe Barton should clearly be one of our main targets for 2006. But who is running against him? Well, in my Progressive Democrat Newsletter I have an ongoing campaign I call "Giving voice to our Vets." Recently, in this section, I introduced several Iraq War vets running for Congress as Democrats in 2006. In that I highlight David Harris, who is running against none other than Corrupt Joe Barton. Here is what I wrote last issue:
David Harris, a Bronze Star recipient, is running for the TX-06 seat. You can read a little about his views on the Iraq war.
Harris is opposing GOP incumbent Joe Barton in Texas' very red sixth district. So this in many ways is a close parallel to OH-2 where a long-shot Iraq war vet ran in a very red district. Barton is one of the 11 Republican Reps. who voted against giving aid to the victims of hurricane Katrina (the so-called Katrina 1a, see below). Maybe we can do even better in TX-6 than in OH-2. His website won't be up until October, I hear, so as far as I know we can't make direct donations to him. However, I believe this is part of Tarrant County (Fort Worth area) so I suggest a donation to the Tarrant County Democrats or the Tarrnat County Youg Democrats. This can set the county Dem party up for supporting whichever Dem candidate wins the primary in 2006. Or go to my "Defeat the Katrina 11" website and donate to the general fund for the TX-6 race. I suspect that this race will be a sleeper for awhile, but will get hot in the last weeks of the campaign in 2006. That would parallel the OH-2 race. But this time we really have a chance to give this race some early attention. Please keep an eye on it and give when you can!
After highlighting the Katrina 11, I was contacted by David Harris's campaign thanking me for including the TX-6 race. Here is what his campaign wrote me:
While David [Harris] was here, helping unload and organize supplies for evacuees, hauling furniture up several flights of stairs and delivering food to those families, Rep. Barton voted NO on Katrina without a second thought. We have had constituents calling all his offices asking for an explanation of the NO vote to which they have replied that after "exhaustive research" he was compelled to vote NO because of the lack of oversight for how the money would be spent. What is hilarious about that is that he has NO problem giving Halliburton no-bid contracts and a blank check. Rep. Barton is also heads up the Energy and Commerce committee and is responsible for the way all of us are getting ripped off at the pump these days. He takes big money from the gasoline PACs (among others). There are many an argument that can be made for this being a race of NATIONAL importance. (did I mention he is also responsible for the FCC clamp down on Howard Stern?) We need help and we need loads of it. We are hoping that once the site goes live (in about 2 weeks) we can raise money quickly. Barton already has $1.4 million in the bank so realistically, we are looking for 500 people in the US to send in the max prior to the primary of $2000 each. If we can figure out a way to have people EVERYWHERE looking for one person in their area, then we will be well on the way. Can you imagine the fright that would come over Rep. Barton if our December filing shows us having the same or more money in the bank that he does? It would definitely send a message so that is what we are hoping happens. Work like yours on the blogs goes a long way towards that end.
David Harris now has his website up if you want to read more about him.
But I want to emphasize that we HAVE to get Joe Barton. If David Harris gets the nomination (as far as I have been able to determine he is so far unopposed) we should proudly get behind him.
PLEASE, go to my Katrina11 website and, if nothing else, donate to defeat Joe Barton in the TX-6 race. This guy is the worst of the worst--corrupt, callous and a conservative extremist. I hope to make the TX-6 race a major part of our efforts to retake our country. PLEASE join me in this.
Posts: 523 | From Stillwater,OK,USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
some helpful hints Phyllis,
1. when updating your topic line, please show the date you updated; thanks.
2. A reminder to hit enter often on those long paragraphs and double space; thanks so much for the updates on who else have come on aboard.
posted
I called Senator Feinstein's office and told them I support the Lyme Bill S 1479. They told me she is in favor of it.
Posts: 20 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
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We are doing the same thing here in Wisconsin. Right now several of our support group leaders are meeting with their Representatives to discuss the current legislation needed for our state. (Myself included, I am planning on talking to Rep. Tom Petri 6th district in 2 weeks).
I am also trying to get the word out about the new web site, www.lymeleague.com
If you can help me do that, I can certainly help you contact support group leaders to get them on the same page. If you can supply me with an email list of them instead of phone calls, it would be faster and more efficient not to mention cost-effective. Not sure I can swing all the long-distance calls right now.
www.LymeLeague.com"Together We Grow Stronger" Posts: 139 | From A tiny little home office in the middle of Wisconsin | Registered: Feb 2005
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
Hi people, sorry for the long hiatus. We got the spring issue of the LymeTimes out. I just got my copy in the mail and it's beautiful (thanks Pam B for artwork). I have LD Awareness Month in CA to work on next. However, as far as the federal bills go, we are slowly making progress. I hear CA 1st district congressman Mike Thompson will sign on after spring break, which makes me think Spring break would be a good time to try to go in and visit your own congressman/woman. Even if you don't see them personally, talk to an aide - that's what I did. Watch the paper for notices of town meetings you might be able to go to - some do this on breaks to get in touch with constituents' issues. Take something in writing to hand over, whether you see the cong. him/herself or an aide. When I have time I will update the list of people who have contacted representatives. I suspect the list may be quite short. Everyone thinks someone else will do it, and no one does. The bills are not going anywhere without our active involvement. If anyone needs any help, email me because I have not had time to check this list for some time. I'll try to get back to you soon. Meanwhile, whatever you can do to get out the troops, do it! [email protected]
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
here is the latest co-sponsor list and the date they signed on:
Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 7/26/2005 Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] - 9/7/2005 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] - 9/7/2005 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 9/7/2005 Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 9/7/2005 Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 10/3/2005 Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 10/7/2005 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 10/7/2005 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 10/7/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 10/7/2005 Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 10/20/2005 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 11/15/2005 Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 12/14/2005 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 2/1/2006 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 2/1/2006 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 2/1/2006 Rep Hooley, Darlene [OR-5] - 2/1/2006 Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 2/1/2006 Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 2/7/2006 Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 2/28/2006 Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 3/29/2006
Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 7/25/2005 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 7/29/2005 Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] - 9/28/2005 Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 10/4/2005 Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 12/14/2005 Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/15/2005 Sen Chafee, Lincoln [RI] - 2/7/2006 Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 2/17/2006
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
thanks for the heads up Bruce, i sent him a few letters. Didnt even get a reply back.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Breaking up Phyllis' post for us neuro lymies to read.
Phyllis, please hit enter often and double space ok for us neuro lymies; we thank you.
quote:Originally posted by pmerv:
Hi people, sorry for the long hiatus. We got the spring issue of the LymeTimes out. I just got my copy in the mail and it's beautiful (thanks Pam B for artwork).
I have LD Awareness Month in CA to work on next.
However, as far as the federal bills go, we are slowly making progress. I hear CA 1st district congressman Mike Thompson will sign on after spring break, which makes me think Spring break would be a good time to try to go in and visit your own congressman/woman.
Even if you don't see them personally, talk to an aide - that's what I did.
Watch the paper for notices of town meetings you might be able to go to - some do this on breaks to get in touch with constituents' issues.
Take something in writing to hand over, whether you see the cong. him/herself or an aide.
When I have time I will update the list of people who have contacted representatives... SEE NEXT POST. I suspect the list may be quite short. Everyone thinks someone else will do it, and no one does.
The bills are not going anywhere without our active involvement. If anyone needs any help, email me because I have not had time to check this list for some time .
I'll try to get back to you soon. Meanwhile, whatever you can do to get out the troops, do it! [email protected]
Phyllis, thanks for the update on things. I emailed Iowa's Sen. Tom Harkin after your last note and mailed it specifically to an aid who had worked for him in his Des Moines HQ office. He had helped me with my 2nd SSDI claim/DDS.
I'll email him again for an update since he has NOT responded.
Thanks for showing those who have signed on! Bettyg
Ann-Ohio posted about your display board info; how very kind of you Phyllis to copy after its done.
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
Hi People, LDA has sent out a packet of info for people who want to work on getting the bills passed. I think the easiest way for you to get it is to send me a personal email at pmerv at hughes dot net and I will email it to you as a ZIP attachment. Then you can open each document and file where you can find them easily.
There is one important message about talking to the media. You don't have to answer the question they ask! If they ask you, "Do you think doctors should treat patients out of state that they haven't even seen?" you can say, "The real question is, why do people with Lyme have to go to out-of-state doctors to get diagnosed and treated, and why do they have to wait months for an appointment? That's what you should be asking."
I may have mentioned before that when I am interviewed, I keep a basic brochure in front of me so I don't go off into long-winded, detailed responses (I know too much!) but cover the basics. If you are on the radio, the longest answer shouldn't be much more than 30 seconds.
Please email me if you'd like the LDA handout on activism for the federal bills. Phyllis
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Also, contact your congressperson directly. Phone calls and letters make the most impact, then personal emails, then petitions.
posted
Feedback on S1955, health insurance for SMALL businesses.
Talk about a quick 1 day response today; I emailed EARLY AM hours, and this arrived sometime this afternoon regarding S 1955.
"Dear Betty: Thank you for contacting me. I am always glad to hear from you.
I appreciate you contacting me regarding S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act (HIMMA). The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee recently passed HIMMA and it has been placed on the calendar for future consideration in the Senate.
In my travels around the state, I continue to hear from Iowans about the exorbitant costs of health insurance. Small businesses simply can't afford to provide heath care for their employees, and I believe Congress needs to address this. Access to quality, affordable health care should be a right, not a privilege. It should be a right because people's lives, their security, and their ability to contribute to society are all undermined if they are not healthy. I also believe that access to health care coverage saves taxpayer money in the long run. Bear in mind that U.S. taxpayers spend billions annually due to overuse of emergency rooms, treatment of chronic conditions and treatment of the uninsured.
Unfortunately, as currently written, HIMMA does not provide a reasonable solution for small business owners and their employees who lack health insurance. As a member of the HELP Committee, I opposed HIMMA because the legislation fails to create plans that would offer comprehensive health care coverage at affordable rates.
First, HIMMA eliminates state protection of benefits for certain coverage that would not otherwise be provided, and fails to address chronic disease prevention. Elimination of state coverage protection will create a health care system that denies individuals access to preventive services and will limit access to screenings that can detect chronic diseases.
For example, states around the country require insurers to cover diabetes testing supplies, cancer screenings, and health screenings for newborns .
In Iowa, S. 1955 would eliminate coverage protections for dental care, mental
In addition, this legislation fails to control the rising cost of health care. HIMMA also allows small business health plans to divide enrollees into as many as nine different groups with widely varying premiums from group to group.
In its current form, this provision means that health insurers would be able to charge dramatically higher premiums to businesses that have unhealthy employees. Unfortunately, this means many businesses will not see a change in the premiums they are charged now.
Currently, no date has been set to consider S. 1955 in the Senate. However, please rest assured I will keep your views in mind as the bill moves through the legislative process.
I believe there is a better way to offer health insurance to small businesses. I am a co-sponsor of S. 2510, the Small Employers Health
This bill would give more Americans access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the program that covers members of Congress, congressional staffers and many federal employees, by allowing small businesses to purchase privately sponsored coverage for their employees .
FEHBP offers a choice of plans, but the plans are required to offer high quality insurance, not stripped down benefits packages that are unhelpful to people with pre-existing
This approach uses large pools of people to bring premium costs down, but still guarantees access to quality insurance.
The bill also provides a tax credit to make insurance offered under the plan more affordable. This solution holds genuine promise, and we need to pursue it aggressively.
Finally, our entire health care system needs to be oriented away from one that only treats specific conditions to one that promotes prevention of illness in the first place. I believe the government can play a useful role in this process by encouraging businesses to promote healthy living for their employees, challenging the insurance industry to reduce health insurance premiums for people who lead healthy lifestyles, changing the way Medicare reimburses doctors and hospitals for preventive care, and by promoting healthy eating and exercise habits through our schools.
I have introduced legislation - S. 1074, the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention Act of 2005 - to accomplish many of these goals . Shifting the way we think about health care will lead to lower costs in the long run for all Americans.
Again, thanks for sharing your views with me. Please don't hesitate to let me know how you feel on any issue that concerns you. Sincerely, Tom Harkin United States Senator TH/" --fyi Bettyg
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I have been e-mailing and sending typed letters to Congressman Steve Israel, Hillary Clinton, and others in the State of New York as I am a Chronic Lyme Sufferer and want to help.
This is the e-mail I received a couple of days ago from Steve Israel:
Dear Denise:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 2526, the Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee Act of 2005. I welcome the opportunity to respond to your concerns.
As you may know, H.R. 2356 would establish the Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee in the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, the legislation authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010 for research and educational activities concerning lyme disease and other tick-borne disorders and efforts to prevent such illnesses.
Rep. Sue Kelly introduced H.R. 2526 on May 23, 2005. It has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Please be assured that I will keep your views firmly in mind should I have the opportunity to vote on this legislation.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again on any matter of concern. You can also visit my website (www.house.gov/israel) to learn more about the issues important to you.
Sincerely,
STEVE ISRAEL Member of Congress
P.S. Due to the high volume of correspondence I receive, I am unable to process direct replies to this e-mail.
To send follow-up comments or future inquires, please fill out and submit the contact form on my website (www.house.gov/israel).
I look forward to hearing from you.
-------------------
Well, I guess Mr. Israel is passing the buck and avoiding the issue here.
I tried going into his website again to add my comments, but that section was "closed" as I wanted to say "Mr. Israel, I pray that you and your family do not get Lyme Disease, for if any of you did, I am sure I would see a complete change of attitude!"
Denise
Posts: 15 | From New York, USA | Registered: May 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Feedback on S1955, health insurance for SMALL businesses
from Iowa's Rep. Chuck Grassley dated 5-9-06, a PROMPT letter after my early morning email that day!
I apppreciate knowing your views regarding Assn. Health Plans, AHPs, also know as small business health plans. I continue to be concerned about both the uninsured and the high cost of health insurance in general. Many individuals who are self-employed, and those who work in small businesses, simpled can't keep up with the rising costs of health care.
AHPs are one proposed solution to the problem amoung many others, such as tax credits, medical savings accts., and expanded flexibility for the state and federal programs that provide health insurance. I believe all of these idease deserve to be looked at in the context of our uninsured problem.
I would like to take this opprtunity to provide you with info on S 1955, the Health Insurance Martetplace Modernization and Affordability Act.
S1955 includes signaificant changes from other legislation that has been introduced on AHPs.
This legislation would allow small business health plans to purchase health insurance coverage that deviates from state insurance requirements, as long as they offer an ALTERNATIVE (my all caps) that is equivalent to a state employee health plan in one of the five most populous states. (Betty bolded)
Sen. Enzi, R-WY, introduced this bill in Nov. 05. The Senate Commission on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HELP, favorably reported this legilation on 3-15-06.
Please know that I will keep the best interests of all Iowans in mind shoudl this legislation come before the full Senate for consideration. Bettyg
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