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- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeMay 25th 2009 edited
I hope everyone and your family and friends have been writing to your US Representatives in support of HR 2084 - PARAid Act of 2009 - "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009. A new co-sponsor has sign on. In addition to the sponsor: Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and original co-sponsors James McGovern (D-MA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Joe Courtney (D-CT) has just signed on as a co-sponsor. But we need more support for this important legislation. Please write your Representatives and ask your family, friends, co-workers and everone else you know to also write their Representatives. If you need info on who your Rep is or help with what to write go to AARDA's home page and click on the right side of the page "Contact Congress". If you do not know what I am writing about here - again go to the home page and click on the right side of page "Advocate for Change" and read about this important bill. Thank you all for your help with this, Ellie. -
- CommentAuthorjonnell
- CommentTimeJun 5th 2009
Hi I have a cause for this on my facebook page Jonnell Labas. We all need to pledge to at least email 1 letter to our congressman or make one phone call. This bill can benefit so many of us. I have a 4 year old with sjogrens and I am sick and tired of no information, research or awarness of this horrible disease. -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeJun 19th 2009
Just want to tell all - there are 2 new co-sponsors that signed on to this bill in June: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Dale E Kildee (D-MI).
Not sure if this is due to the efforts of all of us or not - but I like to think it is, so keep working at it.
Remember to ask all your family members, friends and co-workers to write their reps and ask them to support HR 2084 and ask them to ask their friends and co-worker to write too.
Thanks and I hope you all are having a "good day", Ellie -
- CommentAuthorFancyPantsAndMe
- CommentTimeJun 20th 2009
Would this prevention, awareness and research actually allow "natural", "alternative" and "allopathic medicine" to be researched ? do you know?
Just curious..thanks.
~Amy~ -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeJun 20th 2009
HR 2084 is about research on triggers & biomarkers, the relationship between some autoimmune diseases & mental illness and to increase awareness. You can read the bill at http://thomas.loc.gov - do a search on the bill. Sorry but I am not sure if any of it covers "natural", "alternative" or "allopathic medicine". Anything that helps increase awareness and looks for triggers is great and I'm all for it. -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeJul 8th 2009
Hi All - just an up-date on support for HR 2084 - the bill now has 8 co-sponsors. On July 7th 3 new co-sponsors signed on to the bill.
Sponsor:
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Co-Sponsors:
James McGovern (D-MA)
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Joe Courtney (D-CT)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Dale Kildee (D-MI)
Eric Massa (D-NY)
Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)
Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
It is great that new co-sponsors are signing on - but there are still many, many more that could sign on. So if you do not see your Representative on the above list - write them, call them, email them or go see them and ask them to support HR 2084 - PARAid Act of 2009 - "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009. Ask all your family members, friends and co-workers to contact their reps and ask them to support HR 2084 and ask them to ask their friends and co-worker to write too.
If you have already contacted your Rep - and they still have not signed on to the bill - contact them again.
Thanks and I hope you all are having a "good day", Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeJul 19th 2009
Hi All:
Just an up-date on support for HR 2084 - the bill now has 10 co-sponsors.
On July 16, 2009 - 2 new co-sponsors signed on to the bill:
Ed Pastor (D-AZ)
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
Have a great day,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeJul 25th 2009
Another up-date - there are now 11 co-sponsors.
On July 23, 2009 a new co-sponsor signed on to support this bill:
Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorKimberly
- CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
I have never written a letter on behalf of a political cause, but just sent a letter to my representative last night. I have also forwarded the information from AARDA to several other groups that I participate in.
I think it will be difficult to get this through with all the other stuff going on in Washington, but hopefully, we can make enough noise to be heard!! -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
Hi Kimberly,
Thank you for writing that letter.
I too think it will be difficult to get this passed, but already there is progress. The bill started with 2 co-sponsors and now has 11.
Remember, ask all your family, friends, and co-workers to write that letter too and also ask them to ask their family, friends and co-workers. The more people who write the better chance of getting this important bill passed.
Have a great day,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeSep 9th 2009
Another up-date - there are now 13 co-sponsors.
On Sept 8, 2009 2 new co-sponsors signed on to support this bill:
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Keep writing those letters!
Thank you all,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeSep 17th 2009
Hi Everyone:
Hope you are all doing well & feeling well.
Another up-date - there are now 14 co-sponsors.
On Sept 15, 2009 a new co-sponsors signed on to support this bill:
Lee Terry (R-NE)
Keep writing those letters!
Thank you all,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeSep 23rd 2009
Hello to all:
HR 2084 up-date...
Co-sponsors are now up to 15.
On Sept 22, 2009 James Moran (D-VA) signed on to this bill as a co-sponsor.
Keep comtacting your Reps, the count is now 13 co-sponsors in addition to the original 2 (15 total) along with Sponsor Patrick Kennedy (D-RI).
Feel well,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
Hi Everyone:
Wow, another up-date on HR 2084 already!
On Sept 25, 2009 Jim Marshall (D-GA) signed on as a co-sponsor.
There are now 16 co-sponsors.
Have a great day,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeSep 30th 2009
Hi Everyone:
I have another up-date to pass on already. Sept has been a great month with a total of 6 new - co-sponsors signing on to HR 2084.
On 9/29/09 Grace Napolitano (D-CA) signed on as a co-sponsor.
The total of co-sponsors is now 17.
Feel well,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeOct 21st 2009
Hi Everyone:
Hope you are all doing well & feeling well.
Another up-date - there are now 18 co-sponsors.
On Oct 20, 2009 a new co-sponsors signed on to support this bill:
Steven LaTourette (R-OH)
Keep writing those letters and making those calls!
Thank you all,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeFeb 14th 2010
Hi Everyone:
Sorry fell a bit behind on up-dates. Had a bad flare, better now..
2 new co-sponsors have signed on to HR 2084.
On 1/20/10 Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and on 2/2/10 Daniel Maffei (D-NY) both signed on to support this important bill.
The count is now 20 co-sponsors.
Hope all are well and feeling good,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeMar 5th 2010
Hi Everyone:
Hope all are feeling good...
A new co-sponsor has signed on to HR 2084 on 3/4/10, Fred Upton (R-MI).
The count is now 21.
Anyone new - please write to your Representatives and ask your family, friends, co-workers and everone else you know to also write their Representatives. If you need info on who your Rep is or help with what to write go to AARDA's home page and click on the right side of the page "Contact Congress". If you do not know what I am writing about here - again go to the home page and click on the right side of page "Advocate for Change" and read about this important bill.
Thank you all for your help with this, and have a great weekend,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeMar 11th 2010
Hello All:
Wow - another co-sponsor signed on to HR 2084 this month - the total is now 22.
Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL) signed on as a co-sponsor to HR 2084 on 3/9/10.
Hopefully, now that March has been declared Autoimmune Awearness Month, there will be more public exposure about Autoimmune diseases which will lead to more co-sponsors
for HR 2084.
Help all are feeling well and having a great day,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorPatientEducator
- CommentTimeMar 16th 2010
Your Advocacy Help is Needed
AARDA is looking for a goal of 80 co-sponsors in 90 days:
The Cause
On April 23, 2009, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) re-introduced the PARAiD Act of 2009. The act has the potential to infuse more than $43 million into new funding for autoimmune disease research, awareness, and education. H.R. 2084, also called the "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009" (PARAiD), will bring new funding to the following areas:
-Research on Environmental Triggers of Autoimmune Diseases
-Grants to Increase Awareness of Autoimmune Diseases
-Grants for Education on Relationship between Autoimmune Diseases and Mental Illness
-Loan Repayment Program Regarding Physician Research on Autoimmune Diseases
-Research and Database on Biomarkers of Autoimmune Diseases
Action Needed
To reach our goal of 80 co-sponsors in 90 days, each of you must
-Write a letter to your congressional representative to ask for support of H.R. 2084 and to request that he/she become a co-sponsor. Be sure to include details of your story with autoimmune disease to let your Rep. know why this is important to you as a constituent. Send it by Email or Fax.
-Call your congressional representative to ask for support for H.R. 2084 and request that he/she become a co-sponsor. Calls can be made to your representative's office in D.C. or to his/her district office.
-Forward this message to friends and colleagues requesting that they do the same.
-Please note that ANY letters, phone calls, or visits should be reported back to AARDA so that we can follow up and ensure the co-sponsorship! Send us copies of all correspondence and dates of calls and visits to advocacy@aarda.org .
How to Get Started!
Find your congressional representative (www.house.gov) You'll need your Zip Code and maybe your Zip+4.
Email: Write your email using our sample template (see below). You can copy our sampleright into the "write your rep" form. Make sure that you personalize it where indicated. Before you hit the send button, please copy it, insert it into an email and send it to advocacy@aarda.org
Fax: Write your letter and fax it to your congressional representative. You can find your representative's fax number by looking at his/her Web site. Please fax or email a copy to AARDA so that we can track your support - Simply cut/copy/paste into email and send it to advocacy@aarda.org or fax us a copy to 586-776-3900.
Don't have email or a fax? Write your letter, send it to us, and ask us to forward it to your representative. We'll gladly fax it for you. Here is our mailing address: AARDA, 22100 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227.
Phone: Call your representative to ask for his/her support for H.R. 2084 and request that he/she become a co-sponsor. Tell him or her of the impact that autoimmune diseases has had on your life and that, as a constituent, you are requesting his/her support. You can call your representative's DC office or his/her district office in your area. Look at the representative's Web site for the phone number. You can find those numbers here: http://www.house.gov/
Sample Support Letter:
Date
The Honorable INSERT NAME
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative XX LAST NAME XX:
As your constituent and one of the 23.5 million Americans currently suffering from one of the more than 80 chronic autoimmune diseases, I implore you to support H.R. 2084, the "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009" (PARAiD), which has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health.
XX INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY (One paragraph) XX
Introduced by Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL), the PARAiD Act calls for a congressional authorization to support funding for autoimmune disease research, awareness, and prevention. The PARAiD Act will fund vital sectors of research and innovative programs and aid in the discovery of preventive measures for autoimmune disease patients. The bill includes research on environmental triggers of autoimmune diseases, grants to increase awareness, grants for education on the relationship between autoimmune diseases and mental illness, a loan repayment program regarding physician research on autoimmune diseases, and research and database development on biomarkers of autoimmune disease.
Passage of H.R. 2084 has the potential of being an important catalyst in developing solutions, awareness, and preventive measures for a category of diseases which are burdening the American family at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. As your constituent, I seek your co-sponsorship of H.R. 2084.
Sincerely,
INSERT YOUR NAME, YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Thanks for your help!!! -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeApr 29th 2010
Hi Everyone:
Hope all are feeling good...
A new co-sponsor has signed on to HR 2084 on 4/27/10, Janice Schakowskv (D-IL).
The count is now 22.
Anyone new - please write to your Representatives and ask your family, friends, co-workers and everone else you know to also write their Representatives. If you need info on who your Rep is or help with what to write go to AARDA's home page and click on the right side of the page "Contact Congress". If you do not know what I am writing about here - again go to the home page and click on the right side of page "Advocate for Change" and read about this important bill.
Thank you all for your help with this, and be happy - be healthly,
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorEllie
- CommentTimeMay 15th 2010
Hi All:
Hope everyone is having a good day.
My last post said we have 22 co-sponsors on HR 2084 - but that should have said 23 and now it is up 24.
Ralph Hall (R-TX) signed on as a co-sponsor on May 6th.
Keep those letters and phone calls going to your Reps!
Be Happy - Be Healthy.
Ellie -
- CommentAuthorKimberly
- CommentTimeMay 16th 2010
Hi Ellie - Could someone give us a quick "Legislation 101" overview? :-D Is there a time deadline where this bill has to go through committee and be put up for a vote? Or does it stay out there perpetually from year to year until some action is finally taken?
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