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March, 2008
Susan Temple and Support Group Educate Congressional Staff Member
Susan Temple, a 435 Campaign member and support group leader, recently held a different kind of support group meeting. She encouraged group members to invite their U.S. representatives and senators to a meeting focused on "Health Legislative Issues." The efforts were successful: Judy Mattox, a district representative from the office of The Honorable Virgil Goode attended the meeting. Read her story...
 I have been working on this since last summer. At first we invited all three congressmen who represent the people in my group for our September 2007 meeting. None could attend. We have been e-mailing and calling ever since. When the congressmen were unable to attend our March meeting, we specifically asked if they could send someone from their offices in their place. This worked out for one of the congressmen, Rep. Virgil Goode. He sent his district representative Judy Mattox. She reported on the status of the PH Research and Education Act and the Ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act, then listened while group members educated her about living with PH.
I am pleased to announce that my Congressman, Virgil Goode, is already a co-sponsor of the Ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act (H.R. 154) and has recently applied to become a co-sponsor of the Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act (H.R. 3368). But, we found out, we still have a LONG way to go in Congress. So far, there are only 29 co-sponsors of H.R. 154, and only 45 co-sponsors of H.R. 3368. Ms. Mattox suggested that we make every effort to get as many people as we can in other districts to write or call their representatives and urge them to become a sponsor of these bills. Both bills are still in committee, so it would help them come out of committee if they had more overt support. So, if your Congressman or woman still doesn't support these bills, stay on them. If he or she is already a sponsor, thank them and start working on your friends and family in other districts to write or call and urge them to sign on to these bills.
For anyone interested in doing this with your support group, a good place to start is on the PHA web site. Click advocacy and follow the "trail" until you get to the page on your Congress person. For best results, talk to his or her scheduler to find a time that he or she can attend your meeting, or meet with your support group in his or her office. |
