>Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 20:03:22 -0800
>From: "Parkinson's Action Network" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>Organization: Parkinson's Action Network
>To: Margaret Tuchman <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Udall bill; need info
>References: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>Margaret Tuchman wrote:
>>
>> Hi Mike,
>>
>> I think you may want to answer this. Is it possible that new aides are
>> working in congressional offices and the really have no knowledge of last
year's bill?
>> Did a "Dear Colleague" letter go to all the Senators??


Mike Claeys, PAN wrote:
>
>Margaret,
>
>I spoke with Debbie White about this issue just today.  I cleared things
>up with her, but if people are discouraged by her account, please post
>my explaination so that people will have the whole story.
>
>The Dear Colleague has gone around to all offices on the Senate side.
>However, Congressional offices receive mail three times a day, and each
>delivery can include upwards of thirty or forty Dear Colleagues --
>especially at the beginning of a session like now.  There are literally
>hundreds and hundreds of bills out there, so don't be surprised that
>every staffer does not know about every bill off the top of his or her
>head.  Typically what happens is when staffers get calls about a bill
>like the Udall bill, they call the office of the bill's sponsor and
>request information on the bill -- usually a Dear Colleague -- and then
>begin their consideration.
>
>Let me assure you there are people in both Kennedy's and Wellstone's
>offices who know about the Udall bill.  First of all, make sure you are
>calling the DC office (I'm sure everyone is, but I just have to mention
>that.) Wellstone has two people who know the bill well: Health LA Margy
>Heldring and Health Fellow Linda Degutis -- talk to either one of them ,
>or refer other staffers to them for information.
>
>Senator Kennedy's office is a little different.  Because Kennedy is the
>ranking Democrat on the Labor & Human Resources Committee, he has
>staffers who work at the Committee to handle health care issues.  One
>person I know knows about the Udall bill is Dr. Pearl O'Rourke, and she
>and other Kennedy staffers can be reach through the committee.
>
>I know it can be confusing and frustrating trying to deal with all these
>staffers and interns and voice mail, etc, but we have to use a lot of
>patience and persistance and stay focused on the goal.  As Joan likes to
>say when I'm get a little stressed, "Nothing great is easy!"  We can do
>it!
>
>Please don't hesitate to call PAN (800) 850-4726 whenever you have
>questions or feel you are getting the runaround from your legislators.
>
>
Margaret Tuchman (55yrs, Dx 1980)- NJ-08540
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